Taipei: Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an has pledged to hold a company accountable over negligence that allegedly resulted in an accident that killed a worker who was helping set up the stage for New Year's Eve performances outside Taipei City Hall. Chiang made the pledge Saturday when asked for comment on the death of Lawai Arik, the deceased worker, who was also the lead singer of the rock band Ark of Redemption.

According to Focus Taiwan, Chiang said the city government will ensure that the company commissioned to set up the stage takes full responsibility for the mishap, though he did not specify how this would be achieved. Relevant city government personnel visited Lawai's family in Taoyuan's Zhongli District on Dec. 26 and provided them with a consolation payment.

Lawai, a member of the Indigenous community, allegedly fell from a scaffold while setting up the stage on Dec. 25, 2024, and died despite receiving emergency treatment. His family has questioned why the company did not provide him with Labor Occupational Accident Insurance as required by law, and why work to build the stage was allowed to resume on Dec. 27, just two days after the accident.

Taipei Labor Inspection Office head Liang Tsang-chi stated on Saturday that preliminary investigation findings revealed the contractor had failed to ensure that all workers used a safety harness and should be held accountable for this negligence. The work was allowed to resume, Liang said, after his office ensured that the company took measures to prevent workers from falling and effectively eliminated the cause of the initial suspension of work.

Liang mentioned that his office has convened a meeting to review the "major occupational accident" and that a report on its cause and responsible parties will be completed soon and delivered to the central government and forwarded to Lawai's family. Meanwhile, Ark of Redemption has launched a hoodie in memory of its frontman that can be purchased via its Instagram bio. The band indicates that all revenue from the sales will be used to fund Lawai's funeral.