Ruihai Exec Receives Suspended Death Sentence For Tianjin Warehouse Explosion

The top executive of a logistics company was given a suspended death sentence for last year’s major explosion at a Tianjin warehouse that resulted in the deaths of 173 people, largely firefighters and police officers, according to an article from The Standard. A Chinese court determined that Ruihai International Logistics chairman Yu Xuewei bribed government officials in order to store toxic chemicals at the company’s warehouse when the explosion occurred.

An additional 48 people received lesser sentences, including 25 government officials who were charged with dereliction of duty and abuse of power, and 12 Ruihai employees accused of cooperating in the scheme, according to the article. Nearly 100 firefighters and 11 policeman were reportedly killed because they were unaware of the presence of 800 tons of ammonium nitrate in the warehouse. Another 798 people living in nearby apartments were injured and air, water and soil in the immediate area were contaminated, according to the article.

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