Arrest Warrants Rejected for SPC Samlip Factory Manager, 3 Others in Fatal Accident Case

The court has rejected requests for the detention and investigation of four individuals, including the factory manager, identified as responsible for the fatal worker accident at SPC Samlip's Sihwa plant, citing insufficient grounds for them to destroy evidence or flee. The Ansan Branch of the Suwon District Court rejected the arrest warrants for four individuals, including SPC Samlip Sihwa plant manager Mr. A, who face charges of causing death by professional negligence. The court stated the lack of concerns regarding their potential to tamper with evidence or flee as the reason for the rejection.

With this decision, the officials accused of causing a death due to negligence in safety management will be investigated without detention. Once the police conclude their investigation, they plan to forward Mr. A and others to the prosecution without detention.

On May 19 last year, around 3 AM, a female worker in her 50s died after becoming trapped in a spiral cooling conveyor machine at SPC Samlip's Sihwa plant in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province. At the time of the accident, the worker was inside the machine applying lubricant. The National Forensic Service's appraisal results revealed that the machine's automatic lubricant spray system was not functioning properly.

The police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor initially applied for arrest warrants in January, but after the prosecution requested supplementary investigation, they re-applied for the warrants recently.

A fire also broke out at the SPC Samlip Sihwa plant on the 3rd of last month, injuring three people. The police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor are investigating that incident.