Taiwan legislator, 3 others indicted in fatal hospital fire case

Nine lives were lost in a devastating fire at Antai Hospital in October 2024, and now the hospital's founder, legislator Su Ching-chuan, along with three other individuals, are facing renewed charges of negligent homicide and violating building codes. The Pingtung District Prosecutors Office has indicted them after a previous suspended sentence for Su was overturned.

The initial decision to grant Su a suspended sentence was based on the hospital's payment of over 34 million NT dollars in compensation to victims' families and its long-standing provision of medical services to the southern Pingtung region. However, the High Prosecutors Office in Kaohsiung disagreed, questioning the proportionality of the suspended sentence given the gravity of the public safety incident and the loss of nine lives.

Upon reinvestigation, prosecutors found that illegal structures connecting different parts of the hospital building remained, and critical fire separation measures were continuously ineffective. This demonstrated a lack of proactive effort and determination to eliminate public safety risks. The indictment also includes charges related to violations of the Building Act and other offenses.

Su Ching-chuan, along with his brother Su Wei-sung (hospital general affairs supervisor), electrician Cheng, and safety inspector Kuo, are accused of various offenses. The fire, which occurred during Typhoon Shanzu, spread across multiple floors, resulting in the deaths of one hospital employee and eight patients, with many others injured from smoke inhalation. The case highlights persistent safety concerns within the facility.

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The hospital's large-scale non-compliance with building codes, with illegal structures accounting for 3300% and the entire hospital having a 47.2% illegal construction rate, shows a lack of proactive effort and determination to eliminate public safety risks.