Coal mine managers in court over fatal mine blast
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Five managers of a coal mine in central China's Henan Province went on trial last week over the deaths of 76 workers in a gas blast a year ago, the local procuratorate announced Wednesday.
The court hearing took place on Sept. 5 at the Intermediate People's Court of Pingdingshan City of Henan.
The defendants, Li Xinjun, Han Erjun, Hou Weimin, Deng Shujun, and Yuan Yingzhou, were charged with endangering public security by dangerous means, according to the People's Procuratorate of Pingdingshan.
The managers were in charge of production, technical maintenance and safety monitoring of a coal pit in Xinhua District of Pingdingshan.
The blast ripped through the pit on Sept. 8, 2009, killing 76 miners working underground and injuring 15 others.
According to the prosecutors, the suspects were fully aware of the high level of gas density in the pit but still allowed production to continue, which resulted in the tragedy.
The court, which has banned media coverage of the trial, has not yet reached a judgement.
People convicted of the crime of endangering public security by dangerous means can get the death penalty, according to China's Criminal Law.
In August, four local officials were sentenced to a maximum of 6 years in prison for dereliction of duty with regard to the fatal mine blast.
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