Police officers probed for deadly Vietnam karaoke fire

Two police officers in southern Vietnam's Binh Duong Province have been put under investigation for their involvement in a karaoke parlor fire that killed 32 people in September last year.

Pham Quoc Hung, deputy head of the Dinh Hoa Ward Police Department in Thu Dau Mot District, and Vu Truong Son, a former officer of the Binh Duong Firefighting and Rescue Police Department, were placed under investigation Tuesday for "negligence resulting in serious consequences."

Both are out on bail during the investigation.

The development is part of the infamous 2022 An Phu karaoke parlor fire case.

Around 60 customers and employees were inside the three-story parlor when the fire started from a short circuit in the ceiling of the second floor.

Dozens were injured and 32 people died tragically in the incident. Their bodies were found on the third floor.

Others caught in the blaze had to escape to safety by jumping off a second-floor balcony.

The parlor’s owner Le Anh Xuan, 42, was also previously arrested for investigations into fire safety violations.