Because the doors to the stairwells and exits were locked ( a then-common practice Practice to prevent workers from taking Creating unauthorized breaks and to reduce Cause_change_of_position_on_a_scale theft ) , many of the workers who could not escape Escaping from the burning building jumped Self_motion from the high windows .

Following regulatory and administrative investigations Criminal_investigation , criminal trials and a subsequent appeal , on 15 December 2014 Craig Thomson , a former national secretary of the HSU and a former Labor politician , was found guilty in the Victorian County Court of thirteen charges of theft , and later convicted Legality and fined Judgment_communication 25,000 .

His conviction followed an appeal Request against a conviction and sentence in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 25 March 2014 when Thomson was found guilty of 65 charges of fraud and theft for using Using Health Services Union funds for personal benefit ; and sentenced Legal_rulings to twelve months imprisonment , with nine months suspended over two years .