Photo : YONHAP News
Park Soon-kwan, CEO of Aricell lithium battery maker, was detained on Wednesday on charges of related to the deadly fire that killed 23 people and injured eight others on June 24.
The Suwon District Court issued a pretrial detention warrant for Park on charges of violating the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (SAPA) and other laws on Wednesday, citing the graveness of the charges.
Park has become the first CEO to be detained before the first trial on charges of violating the SAPA, which was implemented in 2022 and imposes severe punishment on company managers for fatal industrial accidents.
Park’s son, Joong-un, the general manager, was also detained on charges of violating the Occupation Safety and Health Act and of causing death or injury by professional negligence.
The court, however, rejected warrant requests for two other officials, saying that the suspects pose no risk of fleeing or destroying evidence.