An Oxford businessman died on a flight to China while he was awaiting trial over alleged fire safety breaches at his Osney Mead warehouse.
Yau Tsang, 60, who founded the city’s first Oriental supermarket Lung Wah Chong, was accused of eight counts of breaching fire safety regulations.
The trial was originally listed for last May, but has been delayed as a result of the defendant’s health difficulties.
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On Thursday (July 20), prosecutor Richard Heller told Oxford Crown Court that the case had come to a ‘sad conclusion’.
“Mr Tsang died on June 3, last month, en route to China and I understand his aircraft was diverted to Azerbaijan, Mr Tsang having suffered a myocardial infarction,” he said.
Judge Maria Lamb formally recorded that the proceedings would be halted, with a carefully worded statement to be filed with the indictment.
In 2021, when Tsang originally pleaded not guilty to the charges, it was said he had failed to ensure that emergency exit routes were kept clear at Lung Wah Chong Warehouse and Supplies, that fire training and equipment was inadequate, maintain fire doors and emergency lighting.
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The failure to comply with the regulations risked people being seriously injured or killed in the event of a fire, prosecutors alleged.
Tsang, late of Lincombe Lane, Oxford, was represented by barrister Sailesh Mehta at Thursday’s hearing.
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