Park Sun-gwan, CEO of Aricell, the battery company where a fire killed 23 people, was sentenced to 15 years in prison in the first trial. It is the highest sentence since the Serious Accidents Punishment Act took effect.
According to the legal community on the 23rd, the 14th Criminal Division of the Suwon District Court sentenced Park, who was indicted on charges including violations of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, to 15 years in prison and took him into custody in the courtroom.
Park Jung-eon, Park's son and Aricell's head of general operations, who was arrested and indicted on charges including violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and occupational negligence causing death and injury, was also sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined 1 million won. The Aricell corporation was fined 800 million won.
In the first trial, the court found that Park falls under a management responsibility holder under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and is also responsible for the fire. The court said, "Although it appears that Aricell's daily operations were handled by Park Jung-eon, various evidence indicates that Park Sun-gwan was in a position to receive substantive reports from Park Jung-eon," adding, "The fact that Park Sun-gwan received important business reports from Park Jung-eon each time and issued instructions on specific matters shows he can be regarded not as a nominal CEO but as the person with de facto overall responsibility for the business."
The court also said, "The loss of human life cannot be remedied by anything," adding, "Twenty-three people died in the fire, and the case is very grave, requiring a corresponding severe punishment."
On Jun. 24 last year in the morning, a fire broke out at Aricell's factory in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, killing 23 workers and injuring eight. Of the 23 dead, 20 were found to be dispatch workers. It was also reported that most of the deceased suffered the accident only three to eight months after joining the company.
In connection with the accident, Park was arrested and indicted on Sept. 24 last year on charges of violating the duty to secure safety and health by failing to conduct checks on hazardous and risk factors and failing to have a manual in place to prepare for serious accidents. However, Park was later released on bail and has since been tried without detention.