All-out Effort on Evidence Analysis and Related Investigations... "Will Thoroughly Identify the Cause of the Collapse"
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] The police investigating the collapse accident at Hwajeong I-Park in Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City have expanded the investigation team.
The investigation headquarters for the newly built apartment collapse accident in Seo-gu, Gwangju, has been operating under Commissioner Kim Jun-cheol (Chief Superintendent) since the 24th. This is an upgrade from the previous system led by Investigation Chief Kim Kwang-nam (Senior Superintendent).
The number of investigators has also increased from 69 to 89, adding 20 more personnel.
A Gwangju Police Agency official explained, "Considering the seriousness of the case and the public interest, the investigation system has been elevated to be led by the Commissioner."
The investigation headquarters is largely divided into the Violent Crime Investigation Unit, which clarifies the cause of the accident, and the Anti-Corruption Economic Crime Investigation Unit, which examines the contractual relationships between the primary and subcontractors.
The investigation headquarters plans to thoroughly uncover the cause of the collapse through evidence analysis secured by search and seizure and interviews with related parties.
Once the on-site rescue operations are completed, a joint on-site inspection will be conducted with the National Forensic Service and others to carry out additional investigations to determine the cause of the accident.
Currently, the cause analysis has been requested from the Construction Accident Investigation Committee of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The committee is identifying the cause based on accident circumstances and construction drawings, analyzing concrete specimens, and examining various factors that are believed to have influenced the collapse accident.
The ten individuals criminally charged include Hyundai Development Company site manager A (49), supervisors, and subcontractor site managers, who face charges of professional negligence resulting in death or injury as well as violations of the Building Act.
It is reported that all of them deny the charges.
Meanwhile, the accident occurred around 3:46 p.m. on the 11th when the exterior walls of the 23rd to 38th floors of Building 201 at the apartment construction site collapsed.
As a result, one worker died and five went missing. It is estimated that they were responsible for window installation and fire-fighting equipment work on the 28th to 34th floors of the collapsed building.
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