Civil servants cannot defend themselves in the same way; they have to be defended by their ministers. If something of such severity has happened that a minister finds it impossible to defend them, they may have to pay the penalty, but the minister still must assume responsibility.
由于须负直接责任，因此事故发生后部长们仅查出责任者是不够的。公务员不能以同样的方式自我辩白，而必须由部长们代为辩护。如果事态严重，部长无法为下属辩护的话，公务员就必须接受惩罚，而部长仍然要承担责任。