Man faces charges over Japanese boy's drowning at Vietnamese resort
A local man has been put under investigation over the drowning death of a then 11-year-old Japanese boy at a five-star resort in Mui Ne in central Vietnam more than four years ago.
Nguyen Quoc Quan stands accused of violating construction regulations following a tragic drowning incident at a Vietnamese resort. The case was reopened in mid-2025 after a series of suspensions and charge changes. The victim, Hanawa Yukiji, was playing in the Lazy River pool at the Centara Mirage Mui Ne resort when he became trapped against the pool's suction system.
Despite attempts by bystanders to perform first aid, he could not be revived. Forensic analysis determined that the boy died from drowning, with marks on his back and waist indicating the severity of the incident. Initial charges in May 2022 alleged negligence for violating professional rules. However, due to conflicting expert opinions on the suction system's danger, the investigation was repeatedly halted.
In early 2025, the case was reopened after the Ministry of Construction provided a forensic assessment revealing violations in the design, construction, and operation of the pool's systems. These violations included insufficient approval of the design and construction standards, as well as inadequate calculations regarding the risk of swimmers becoming trapped at the suction opening.
Quan now faces charges under Article 298 of the Penal Code for causing serious consequences through construction violations.
Written by urgent.news from VnExpress International's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
