A woman in her 60s died in a bungee jumping accident last February
Months of legal review... Case referred to prosecution with charges
The police investigating the fatal bungee jumping fall accident that occurred last February at a sports facility within a complex shopping mall in the Seoul metropolitan area have referred the representative of the experience facility to the prosecution on charges of violating the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (Serious Accidents Punishment Act).
The Criminal Mobile Unit of the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency recently sent Mr. A, the representative of 'Smob' (a sports experience facility) located in Starfield Anseong, to the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Pyeongtaek Branch on charges of violating the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (causing death by negligence to a citizen), Yonhap News reported on the 16th.
Mr. A is accused of failing to fulfill his duty to prevent accidents as the person responsible for management in connection with the death of a woman in her 60s, Ms. B, who fell 8 meters onto a concrete floor from the indoor bungee jumping equipment at Smob in Starfield Anseong on February 26 last year. At the time of the accident, Ms. B was wearing safety equipment, but it was reported that the carabiner (rescue hook) was not fastened.
Bungee jumping equipment inside Starfield Anseong, where a passenger fall accident occurred last February. Provided by Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters, Yonhap News Agency
The Serious Accidents Punishment Act stipulates that if a disaster occurs due to management defects at public facilities and results in the death of one or more persons or injuries requiring treatment for more than two months to ten or more people, it is considered a serious citizen disaster. The person responsible for management of such a public facility where the accident occurred can be criminally punished under the law.
The police reviewed the legal aspects for several months, considering that Mr. A, as the company representative, had the duty to conduct safety inspections, provide equipment and facilities, and assess risk factors for the facility. A police official explained, "Based on the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, Mr. A is the person responsible for management, and Smob is a public facility, so criminal punishment is possible."
Earlier, in May last year, the police sent three people to the prosecution on charges of causing death by negligence in the line of duty: Mr. C, a man in his 20s who worked as a safety officer at the time of the accident, the store manager, and the head of safety management at the headquarters. The investigation revealed that Mr. C was a part-time worker who had joined about two weeks prior and was not an expert with safety-related qualifications or skills.
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