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Oxy Reckitt Benckiser is under growing suspicion over fatal humidifier disinfectant test results

Collected: 2016.04.15

Distributed: 2016.04.18

Source: Go Direct

Oxy Reckitt Benckiser, one of manufacturers of humidifier disinfectants, is under increasing suspicion in South Korea that the Korean unit of the British company manipulated and tried to conceal its test results to evade criminal liability for fatal consequences and intentionally liquidated its legal entity. Key employees of the company are due to be summoned by prosecutors next week.

Test results commissioned by the company to local universities showed there is no causal relation between humidifier disinfectants and pulmonary damage, contrasting what Korean health authorities announced in 2011 after toxic humidifier disinfectants killed dozens of people and injured hundreds in the country. But prosecutors found a clue that the company paid some 200 million won ($1,750) to Seoul National University and Hoseo University researchers in return for biasing test data in favor of the company.

Oxy also attempted to conceal unfavorable results from an independent test agency. Prosecutors on Tuesday completed investigations into a professor who led the experiment for Oxy on Tuesday.

Oxy’s abrupt conversion into a limited liability company from a stock company late in 2011 is also incurring suspicion as the move came after the government ordered a recall of affected products. Under the current law, responsible employees and their company are subject to punishment if convicted, but the previous corporation could evade punishment as it no longer exists.

By Kim Yoon-jin

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