A Hong Kong government department has initiated prosecutions against three companies involved in a freak accident at popular boyband Mirror’s concert last July.
The Labour Department said on Friday that upon completion of their investigations, it was found that the three companies – Engineering Impact, Hip Hing Loong Stage Engineering Company and Studiodanz Company – were suspected of breaching ordinances related to occupational safety and employees’ compensation.
Fifteen prosecutions have been brought against the companies. The case will be heard at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Court on March 27.
The prosecutions come around six months after the incident, which saw a giant screen fall onto dancers during a Mirror concert at the Hong Kong Coliseum. One of the dancers, Mo Li Kai-yin, suffered serious injuries to his neck and was left at risk of permanent paralysis. He is still being treated in hospital, according to local media.
The Mirror concerts at the Hong Kong Coliseum – tickets for which were in high demand – were subsequently cancelled. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) also said it would bar suspended installations at upcoming events.
Last week, three people linked to the accident were charged with conspiracy to defraud. They were employed by Engineering Impact Limited, local media reported.
The trio were among five apprehended in November on suspicion of fraud and allowing objects to fall. Police said the other two people had been released unconditionally.
Announcing the findings of the investigation in November, police said it was believed that Engineering Impact Limited purposefully made a false declaration so that it could secure a permit from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department to ensure that the series of 12 shows went ahead as scheduled.
The biggest discrepancy between the actual weight of the equipment and the declared data was more than seven times, police said.
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