18 Referred to Prosecutors Over Incheon Manhole Accident, Including Agency Officials

Eighteen people, including officials of the Incheon Environmental Corporation, the client that commissioned the project, have been referred to prosecutors over last July's accident in which two workers died while surveying the condition of a sewer pipe inside a road manhole in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon. The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency's Metropolitan Crime Investigation Unit said on the 7th that it referred the corporation's former president, four corporation employees, six officials of related companies, eight people who rented out their certifications, and two companies on charges including occupational negligence resulting in death and bid rigging.

Investigators found that three Incheon Environmental Corporation employees and three officials of the service contractor failed to station a supervisor on site despite their obligation as overseers to manage the work site during confined space operations such as manhole work. The contractor was also found to have illegally subcontracted work on other projects to unregistered companies, in addition to this case.

The accident was found to have occurred through what is known as a multi-layered subcontracting chain. Although the Incheon Environmental Corporation prohibited subcontracting in its work order, the contractor subcontracted the work to another company, which in turn re-subcontracted it to yet another company.

Police also confirmed that the corporation's former president leaked bid information to a company CEO in advance. The former president, two corporation employees, and the company CEO were referred on charges including bid rigging.

Police separately referred two companies that conducted surveying work without qualifications and asked the Ministry of Employment and Labor to revoke the certifications of those who had rented them out.