Romanian court jails 13 over deadly nightclub fire

A Romanian court on Monday handed jail terms
to 13 people over a 2015 nightclub fire that
killed 64 and brought down the prime minister
after protests over corruption .
The court also ordered payment of around 50
million euros ( $ 56 million) in compensation to
the survivors and the families of the victims .
The Bucharest nightclub was packed with some
400 revellers — many of them youngsters — at
a rock concert when fireworks were let off ,
triggering a blaze and stampede .
The club did not have any emergency exits.
Investigations pointed to numerous breaches of
safety regulations at the club , which critics saw
as emblematic of the corruption and lax
standards holding back one of the European
Union ’ s poorest nations.
The fireworks organiser was sentenced to 12
years and eight months in prison for
involuntary manslaughter as her company
didn ’ t have the required permits .
The nightclub’ s three owners got 11 years and
eight months in prison for involuntary
manslaughter .
Two technicians who set up the fireworks , two
fire safety inspectors and a Bucharest district
mayor who cleared the club to operate despite
the safety issues received jail of up to 10 years.
Another four people involved got shorter jail
terms .
All those convicted will remain free pending
their appeal.
The mass anti - government protests sparked by
the tragedy led to the resignation of Social
Democratic prime minister Victor Ponta .
Although 26 died at the site , and nearly 200
were injured , another 38 died later, casting a
negative spotlight on Romania ’ s emergency
services and health system .
A former health minister stands accused of
having delayed and even blocked , the transfer
of burns victims abroad . They subsequently
died in ill- equipped Romanian hospitals . An
enquiry into that is still ongoing.