ID :
167389
Fri, 03/11/2011 - 10:23
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https://oananews.org//node/167389
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EXCLUSIVE: NZ Eyes Criminal Charges against People Responsible for Building Collapse
Christchurch, March 10 (Jiji Press)--Japanese families can take solace in the fact that those responsible for the Canterbury Television building's collapse in the latest massive earthquake here will be held to account and perhaps face criminal charges, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said Thursday.
Speaking with Jiji Press, the prime minister said the New Zealand government wants answers as to why the CTV building failed to withstand the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that hit the Christchurch region on Feb. 22.
The government will announce next week how it will investigate the cause of the collapse of the building, which was one of only two commercial buildings in the city that completely destroyed by the shallow and calamitous quake.
The quake left a rising death toll of 166, with 92 killed in the CTV building. More than 20 Japanese students attending Kings Education English school on the fourth floor of the building are still unaccounted for.
"Early next week, maybe as early as Monday, we'll be in a position to announce what form of inquiry will take place and what the terms of reference of that inquiry are. It's fair to say that given the significance loss of life, particularly at the CTV building, we need answers about why that building has failed," Key said.
"If there is a failure in the CTV building, then those who are responsible will be held to account and there will be a proper investigation where family members will be able to take confidence that we've done everything we can to understand exactly what's gone wrong and why," Key said.
It has been already learned that the Christchurch City Council issued green cards to allow use of some buildings without having engineers inspect them after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake caused substantial damage to the region on Sept. 4, 2010.
Key said that he is unfamiliar with the post-September quake building inquiry process but reiterated it is the onus of the owner to have the CTV building checked.
The Department of Building and Housing, now undertaking its own investigation into the two collapsed buildings, will determine if police probes to bring criminal charges against law violators are necessary.
"It's always my expectation that if people break the law, then they should be held to account. So I'll leave that to the police but it's fair to say we take this matter very, very seriously," Key said.
Speaking with Jiji Press, the prime minister said the New Zealand government wants answers as to why the CTV building failed to withstand the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that hit the Christchurch region on Feb. 22.
The government will announce next week how it will investigate the cause of the collapse of the building, which was one of only two commercial buildings in the city that completely destroyed by the shallow and calamitous quake.
The quake left a rising death toll of 166, with 92 killed in the CTV building. More than 20 Japanese students attending Kings Education English school on the fourth floor of the building are still unaccounted for.
"Early next week, maybe as early as Monday, we'll be in a position to announce what form of inquiry will take place and what the terms of reference of that inquiry are. It's fair to say that given the significance loss of life, particularly at the CTV building, we need answers about why that building has failed," Key said.
"If there is a failure in the CTV building, then those who are responsible will be held to account and there will be a proper investigation where family members will be able to take confidence that we've done everything we can to understand exactly what's gone wrong and why," Key said.
It has been already learned that the Christchurch City Council issued green cards to allow use of some buildings without having engineers inspect them after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake caused substantial damage to the region on Sept. 4, 2010.
Key said that he is unfamiliar with the post-September quake building inquiry process but reiterated it is the onus of the owner to have the CTV building checked.
The Department of Building and Housing, now undertaking its own investigation into the two collapsed buildings, will determine if police probes to bring criminal charges against law violators are necessary.
"It's always my expectation that if people break the law, then they should be held to account. So I'll leave that to the police but it's fair to say we take this matter very, very seriously," Key said.
