The court will discuss the collapse of the UMPRUM building, during which workers were injured

Prague - The District Court for Prague 1 will today begin hearing the case of the collapse of a reconstructed building in the city center, during which three workers were injured. The accused, who had artistic supervision over the static part of the construction, faces charges of negligent serious bodily harm. The main hearing is scheduled not only for today but also for next Monday.

The accident occurred in July 2018 in a historic building on Mikulandská Street, which previously housed an elementary school. The reconstructed building now hosts the Technological Center UMPRUM. According to the prosecutor, the accused failed to respond to the signs of looming danger that the construction exhibited, such as noticeable cracks in the vaults. He had sufficient professional qualifications that enabled him to recognize the hazardous situation.

The prosecutor claims that due to the failure of the accused to fulfill his duties, the vault collapsed first on the third floor of the reconstructed building, and subsequently on the second and first floors. This injured the construction workers who were performing cleaning tasks on the second floor. All three injured ended up in the hospital, with one of them in very serious condition and paramedics had to induce a medical coma.