Tragedy in Taiwan: Landlord Denies Blame in Deadly Apartment Fire

A fire in Taichung, Taiwan, claimed six lives, sparking a legal battle between a landlord and a disgruntled tenant. The landlord denies accusations of negligence and arson.

A devastating fire in a Taichung apartment building on Xingzhong Street, Taiwan, three years ago resulted in a tragic loss of life, claiming six lives. The legal proceedings have focused on the actions of the landlord, the 女房東 (landlady) 莊, and a tenant, 鄭 (Zheng).

The initial court ruling found the 莊氏 (Zhuang) landlady responsible for accumulating clutter, and 鄭 (Zheng), a tenant, set the fire due to a dispute with the landlord over not being allowed to raise sheep. The first court sentenced 莊 (Zhuang) to seven years in prison and 鄭 (Zheng) to life imprisonment. The second trial opened today. 莊 (Zhuang) had no lawyer. She claims the prosecution's case is fabricated and that she maintains cleanliness as a landlord. She stated there are over forty empty rooms and the clutter in the hallways wasn't her doing, thus denying her involvement in the crime.

The fire, which killed six people, had its preparatory hearing in the Taichung High Court today. The prosecutors accused 莊 (Zhuang) of violating the Waste Disposal Act and causing public danger leading to death. 莊 (Zhuang) denied the accusations, stating that the waste in the vacant lot next door was discarded by the 蕭 (Xiao) company. She alleged she was falsely accused of accepting a fee of NT$500 (approximately $15 USD). She wasn't present when 蕭 (Xiao) discarded the waste, and the disposal would have cost her NT$10,000 (approximately $300 USD), which would make the NT$500 unlikely.