In a dramatic twist, May Chin (
Chin, who started her career as a singer and later became an award-winning actress, had previously been found guilty of negligence and sentenced to one year and eight months in jail because of six deaths that resulted from a fire at the store she co-owned with friends.
Chin was acquitted on appeal by the Taiwan High Court yesterday on the grounds that she was not in a decision-making position and was not in charge of the day-to-day management of the shop.
The fire broke out on July 25, 1996, at the five-storey wedding specialty shop, killing six -- four employees and a newlywed couple -- and injuring 12. The tragedy occurred less than two years after Chin's friend and hairstylist Mui Da Lin (
Chin, then general manager of the shop, was in the store at the time, but was fortunate enough to escape the fire, which was caused by a short circuit. Though she and Mui Da Lin subsequently paid more than NT$20 million in compensation, she continued to insist on her innocence and persisted in fighting against criminal charges.
Mui Da Lin, on the other hand, gave up appealing his case, in which he was sentenced to a year and 10 months, suspended for four years, following a district court ruling.
The high court found Chin, though general manager in name, did not take part in the running of the store and decided she should not be held responsible for the safety of the shop.
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