SEOUL, Aug 24 (NNN-YONHAP) – An arrest warrant was sought, for those responsible for South Korea’s battery plant fire in June, that claimed 23 lives, the police and the labour ministry, said.
The police and the labour ministry held a joint press conference, after investigating the cause of the deadly accident that occurred at a plant of the local lithium battery producer, Aricell, in Hwaseong, about 45 km south of the capital, Seoul, on Jun 24.
The investigation found that Aricell continued to manipulate test samples, since it began to supply battery products to the military in 2021, in a bid to illegally pass quality inspections.
The arrest warrant was for the Aricell chief executive and three others, on charges of violating the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act and other laws.
After failing to pass the quality inspection in Apr this year, Aricell began to excessively manufacture battery products and make twice as much as its daily average production volume.
For the excessive manufacturing production, the company mobilised unskilled workers, who were not properly trained, leading to a higher defect rate.
The battery factory fire killed 23 workers, including 17 Chinese nationals.– NNN-YONHAP
