Highwealth Construction Corp (興富發), which caused a fatal crash on a Taichung MRT line in May last year, has been ordered to compensate the Taichung City Government and Taichung Mass Rapid Transit Corp a combined NT$222.64 million (US$7.05 million).
Highwealth Construction said in a statement on Wednesday that it is to pay NT$210 million to the city government and NT$12.64 million to Taichung Mass Rapid Transit Corp, but added that the payments would not affect its operations.
The city and the MRT operator in September last year jointly filed an arbitration claim requesting NT$260 million in compensation from the construction firm for the fatal incident on May 10 last year, when a crane boom fell from a construction site above elevated mass rapid transit tracks near Feng-le Park Station on the Taichung MRT’s Green Line.
Photo courtesy of the Taichung Fire Bureau
A train hit the boom moments after departing from the station, killing one passenger and injuring 15.
Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) on Wednesday told reporters that the result of the arbitration was close to the amount expected by city authorities and that the city respects the decision.
Highwealth Construction had already transferred the NT$260 million originally requested to a city government bank account, which the city would access in the near future, the city said.
The balance of the funds would be returned to Highwealth Construction, the city added.
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