HANOI, June 24 (Xinhuanet) -- A local court Wednesday handed down imprisonment and suspended sentences on two Taiwanese businessmen for violating fire regulations that resulted in a fatal fire at their company in Vietnam's northern Tay Ninh province.

    The People's Court of Tay Ninh gave the jail term of three years to deputy director of the Long Tre Company Xu Hualong, and the suspended term of three years to head of the firm's workshop Li Pinghui, local newspaper Young People reported Thursday.

    Having no professional qualifications, the two men bought materials and directed workers to install drying kilns. The deputydirector placed the drying equipment and flammable chemicals in unsafe locations.

    As a result, a fire broke out in January 2003, killing nine workers, injuring 49 others and causing a property loss of 560 million Vietnamese dong (35,700 US dollars). Enditem