Photo courtesy of Yonhap News

 

[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] A South Korean court has rejected arrest warrants for four SPC Samlip officials in connection with a fatal workplace accident at its Siheung plant last year.

On March 19, the Ansan Branch of the Suwon District Court dismissed the warrants against the plant manager and three others accused of occupational negligence resulting in death, citing no risk of evidence destruction or flight.

The case stems from an incident on May 19, 2024, when a female worker in her 50s was fatally trapped while manually applying lubricant inside a spiral cooling conveyor at the company’s bread production line.

A forensic analysis by the National Forensic Service found that the machine’s automatic lubrication system was not functioning properly, forcing workers to enter the equipment—a practice widely criticized as unsafe.

Police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor had initially sought arrest warrants in January, but prosecutors requested supplementary investigation. Following additional inquiries, authorities refiled for warrants earlier this month, which prosecutors approved before the court’s rejection.

The suspects are expected to be referred to prosecutors without detention as the investigation concludes.

Separately, a fire broke out at the same plant on March 3, injuring three people. Authorities are continuing a parallel investigation into that incident.

 

 

 

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