Hsinchu Excavator Operator Gets Suspended Sentence After Accidentally Burying Employer

A backhoe operator in Taiwan has been handed a suspended prison sentence after accidentally causing the death of his employer during a construction project. The incident, which occurred two years ago in Hsinchu County, involved the operator, identified by the surname He, continuing to fill an excavation pit with soil and rocks.

He failed to notice that the site supervisor, identified as Chen, had fallen into the pit for reasons that remain unclear. Without realizing Chen was incapacitated, He proceeded with the backfilling operation, resulting in Chen being buried alive by the debris and subsequently dying at the scene.

The Hsinchu District Court found He guilty of negligent homicide. The court sentenced him to eight months in prison, but granted him a four-year suspended sentence. This leniency was granted after He acknowledged his guilt and agreed to pay over NT$2.47 million (approximately $75,000 USD) in compensation to Chen's family, with whom he reached a settlement.

In its ruling, the court cited He's negligence regarding workplace safety, which led to Chen's death and the profound loss for his family. The judge also considered that He had no prior criminal record and that the accident was not solely attributable to him. The family's agreement to the settlement and their support for a suspended sentence played a crucial role in the court's decision.