Property developer fined over Belgravia crush death
A property developer has been fined £100,000 for breaching his duty as an employer after a worker was crushed to death in a basement excavation.
Nadeem Aftab, 47, of Oxford, was also ordered to pay more than £60,000 costs.
Father-of-nine Arlindo Visentin, 58, died from crush injuries when part of the building in Wilton Row, Belgravia, central London, fell on him in June 2007.
The Old Bailey heard that Aftab did not put in proper safety features.
That was despite advice from structural engineers.
Severe crush injuries
Brazilian-born Mr Visentin was working to underpin the foundations when he was crushed.
Fellow workers dug him out but he died later on that evening.
Judge Paul Worsley said: "This tragedy was wholly avoidable. It is the fault of Mr Aftab and it will be on his conscience."
The judge added that Mr Visentin's family had not found it easy to come to terms with his death.
"His large family very much miss him and all that he has done to support them, coming to this country to improve his and their way of life."