By Kim Rahn
Oxy Reckitt Benckiser, one of the manufacturers of humidifier disinfectants that allegedly killed more than 100 people here, is under suspicion of fabricating toxicity test results and attempting to cover up other evidence.
Amid such suspicions, the prosecution’s investigation of the scandal is focusing on the British company among other manufacturers. Prosecutors plan to summon former and incumbent officials of Oxy Reckitt Benckiser next week and take legal action against those responsible.
In August 2011, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) announced that harmful chemicals in the disinfectants were suspected of causing death by lung failure. After the announcement, Oxy Reckitt Benckiser allegedly sought its own test through a research institution to refute the KCDC’s findings. As its own test also showed a link between the company’s products and lung failure, the company allegedly concealed the test results, according to the prosecution.
Prosecutors seized the original test data during a raid of the company in February.
It is also alleged that the manufacturer attempted to run other tests favorable to it by providing limited data on its products to research teams at Seoul National University (SNU) and Hoseo University.
Oxy Reckitt Benckiser also allegedly deleted customer complaints about breathing difficulties and possible side effects because of its products from its website before the prosecution started its investigation. The prosecution restored most of the deleted content.
“We are looking into whether the company systemically moved to hide evidence of the harmfulness of the products,” a prosecutor said. “If confirmed, those responsible will face charges of destruction of evidence.”
Another suspicion is that the company restructured itself to avoid civil or criminal responsibility for the scandal.
In December 2011 when the scandal was growing, Oxy Reckitt Benckiser changed its corporate entity from a stock company to a limited liability company, registering as a new organization although the company name, assets and employees did not change.
According to the law, the new entity will avoid any legal responsibility, such as the obligation to pay compensation, even if its products are found to be the cause of the deaths. Company officials as individuals will still face charges if they are found responsible.
The disinfectants have killed 143 people so far, according to the government. Civic groups claim 103 of them used Oxy Reckitt Benckiser’s products.