The special investigation team of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office summoned Shin Hyun-woo (68), former CEO of Oxy Reckitt Benckiser (currently RB Korea) again on May 9 for questioning. This took place two weeks after Shin was first questioned for seventeen hours at the prosecutors' office on April 26. Experts believe it likely for the prosecutors to request an arrest warrant.
Shin said, "I will repent for the rest of my life and live a life of service by seeking a way to help the families of the victims" as he appeared before the prosecutors. However, he did not answer whether he was aware of the need to carry out a safety test before the release of the product.
Prosecutors asked Shin about the details of how the company came to neglect the safety test at the time they developed Oxy Ssakssak New Humidifier Agent, which included polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) in 2000. The prosecutors believe Shin had been aware of the need to perform a safety test.
This day, the prosecutors also resummoned Oh, former CEO of Butterfly Effect, which manufactured and sold the CeFu humidifier sterilizer. Reportedly, Oh had manufactured the product by referring to theses and websites on chemical products and had not conducted a safety test. The number of victims from the CeFu product reached 27 including fourteen deaths.
The prosecutors will conclude their investigation on Oxy and CeFu products soon and plan to summon the employees of Lotte Mart and Homeplus that manufactured products that copied Oxy. They believe that these companies were also fully aware of the need for a safety test. As for the government's responsibility in its negligence in supervision, the prosecutors repeatedly drew the line saying, "We have not confirmed any legal responsibility (of the government)."
NGOs and the victims of the humidifier sterilizers declared a boycott on Oxy products for a week starting today. Over fifty groups including the Korea Federation for Environmental Movements, the Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations, and a group of the victims of humidifier sterilizers and their families held a press conference in front of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul this day and announced their decision to boycott Oxy products. The Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice has launched a boycott of Oxy products with international coalitions such as Avaaz, an international NGO, and has decided to protest on Reckitt Benckiser accounts on social network services.
The Korea Federation for Environmental Movements also plans to launch a protest against the head office of Reckitt Benckiser in the United Kingdom with the international NGO, Friends of the Earth. People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy has launched activities to introduce class action lawsuits for consumers and punitive damages. A group of protestors concerning the humidifier sterilizers including Choi Ye-yong, director of the Asian Citizens' Center for Environment and Health and Kim Deok-jong, a family member of a victim concluded their schedules in the U.K. on May 8 (local time) and moved to Denmark. The group plans to visit the ministries of environment and foreign affairs and the prosecutors' office on May 9 and return after passing through London on May 10.
The delegation announced that the Danish ambassador to the Republic of Korea sent a letter expressing his regrets and condolences. The group will arrive at the Incheon International Airport on the morning of May 11, Korean time, and plan to hold a press conference on the results of their visit to the U.K. and Denmark in front of the Oxy building in Yeouido, Seoul at noon this day. - "Introduce Punitive Damages in Oxy Case" In front of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul on May 9, victims of humidifier sterilizers and NGO members declare a boycott of Oxy Reckitt Benckiser products and demand the introduction of punitive damages.
"Introduce Punitive Damages in Oxy Case" In front of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul on May 9, victims of humidifier sterilizers and NGO members declare a boycott of Oxy Reckitt Benckiser products and demand the introduction of punitive damages.
Shin said, "I will repent for the rest of my life and live a life of service by seeking a way to help the families of the victims" as he appeared before the prosecutors. However, he did not answer whether he was aware of the need to carry out a safety test before the release of the product.
Prosecutors asked Shin about the details of how the company came to neglect the safety test at the time they developed Oxy Ssakssak New Humidifier Agent, which included polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) in 2000. The prosecutors believe Shin had been aware of the need to perform a safety test.
This day, the prosecutors also resummoned Oh, former CEO of Butterfly Effect, which manufactured and sold the CeFu humidifier sterilizer. Reportedly, Oh had manufactured the product by referring to theses and websites on chemical products and had not conducted a safety test. The number of victims from the CeFu product reached 27 including fourteen deaths.
The prosecutors will conclude their investigation on Oxy and CeFu products soon and plan to summon the employees of Lotte Mart and Homeplus that manufactured products that copied Oxy. They believe that these companies were also fully aware of the need for a safety test. As for the government's responsibility in its negligence in supervision, the prosecutors repeatedly drew the line saying, "We have not confirmed any legal responsibility (of the government)."
NGOs and the victims of the humidifier sterilizers declared a boycott on Oxy products for a week starting today. Over fifty groups including the Korea Federation for Environmental Movements, the Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations, and a group of the victims of humidifier sterilizers and their families held a press conference in front of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul this day and announced their decision to boycott Oxy products. The Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice has launched a boycott of Oxy products with international coalitions such as Avaaz, an international NGO, and has decided to protest on Reckitt Benckiser accounts on social network services.
The Korea Federation for Environmental Movements also plans to launch a protest against the head office of Reckitt Benckiser in the United Kingdom with the international NGO, Friends of the Earth. People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy has launched activities to introduce class action lawsuits for consumers and punitive damages. A group of protestors concerning the humidifier sterilizers including Choi Ye-yong, director of the Asian Citizens' Center for Environment and Health and Kim Deok-jong, a family member of a victim concluded their schedules in the U.K. on May 8 (local time) and moved to Denmark. The group plans to visit the ministries of environment and foreign affairs and the prosecutors' office on May 9 and return after passing through London on May 10.
The delegation announced that the Danish ambassador to the Republic of Korea sent a letter expressing his regrets and condolences. The group will arrive at the Incheon International Airport on the morning of May 11, Korean time, and plan to hold a press conference on the results of their visit to the U.K. and Denmark in front of the Oxy building in Yeouido, Seoul at noon this day. - "Introduce Punitive Damages in Oxy Case" In front of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul on May 9, victims of humidifier sterilizers and NGO members declare a boycott of Oxy Reckitt Benckiser products and demand the introduction of punitive damages.
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