The CEO of Mandeok Construction, who was prosecuted for violating the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, was given a suspended sentence.
The Criminal Division 1 of the Masan Branch of Changwon District Court in Gyeongnam sentenced CEO A to one year in prison with a two-year suspension and fined Mandeok Construction 50 million won on the 25th in the first trial.
According to the court, A was charged with failing to fulfill safety management obligations related to an accident last May at a construction site in Haman County, where subcontracted worker B in his 60s was caught between an excavator and a fence and died.
A was found to have operated construction vehicles without necessary safety measures such as guides or safety fences and failed to establish evaluation criteria for the performance of safety and health management officers.
It was also revealed that no budget was allocated for personnel, facilities, or equipment necessary for safety and health to prevent accidents.
The court stated, “No labor costs were allocated for construction vehicle guides, and safety signs or fences were not installed at the accident site,” adding, “This constitutes a foreseeable occupational negligence or violation of duty.”
It continued, “The violation of safety and health obligations resulted in a serious outcome with the victim’s death, so the culpability is not light,” and “Especially, to prevent repeated serious accidents due to inadequate safety systems, it is necessary to hold the management responsibility of CEO A strictly,” explaining the reasons for sentencing.
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