Taipei: An entertainment company, its head, and two other individuals have been indicted on manslaughter charges following the death of a construction worker who fell from a scaffold during stage construction in Taipei last December. The incident occurred on December 25, during preparations for New Year’s Eve celebrations organized by the city government, as reported by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office.

According to Focus Taiwan, the company involved, Enjoy Music Entertainment Co., and its head, identified by the surname Kang, along with two others, face charges of manslaughter due to negligence. The charges stem from the worker’s failure to wear a safety harness, a violation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The other two individuals charged include the construction site manager, surnamed Lee, and the event manager, surnamed Huang.

The victim, Lawai Arik, belonged to the Indigenous community and was notably the lead singer of the rock band Ark of Redemption. In the aftermath of the incident, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an vowed to hold those responsible accountable. The city’s Labor Inspection Office found negligence in ensuring all workers used safety harnesses, a factor contributing to the tragic event.