SPC Samlip Search Warrant Dismissed Again: "Investigation Tied Up"

Unable to Conduct Compulsory Investigation Even Over Two Weeks After the Accident

The search and seizure warrant requested for the third time by investigative authorities in connection with the accident at the SPC Samlip Siwha factory, where a female worker in her 50s died after being caught in a machine during work, has been dismissed once again. Both inside and outside the investigative agencies, there is strong dissatisfaction with the court's decision, with some saying that it is effectively blocking the investigation itself.

According to investigative authorities on June 6, the Ansan Branch of the Suwon District Court dismissed the search and seizure warrant requested the previous day by the investigation team, which includes the police, the Ministry of Labor, and the prosecution. This is the third dismissal since the accident occurred on May 19. The investigation team supplemented the warrant application in accordance with the judge's feedback and resubmitted it, but the court did not accept it. The specific reasons for the dismissal have not been disclosed.

In investigations of industrial accident fatalities, initial search and seizure procedures are crucial. Alongside on-site inspections, they are essential for determining the cause of the accident and establishing legal responsibility. In fact, in the cases of the Shinansan Line collapse and the accidents involving Ourhome and the Sejong Expressway, search and seizure operations were conducted within days.

On the 7th of last month, the police are preparing a joint inspection related to the accident in which a worker was caught in a machine and died at the SPC Samlip Siwha factory in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province. Earlier, at around 3 a.m. on the 19th of last month, a female worker in her 50s died after her upper body was caught in a cooling conveyor belt machine while spraying lubricant at the SPC Samlip Siwha factory. Yonhap News

However, in the SPC Samlip case, no compulsory investigation has been initiated even 18 days after the accident. The investigation team says they have no choice but to rely on the company's voluntary submission of materials, even though the company is effectively the subject of the investigation. This means the investigation must proceed based only on the materials provided by the suspect.

A member of the investigation team stated, "There is a high possibility that, instead of providing the materials requested by the investigative agencies, the company will selectively submit only those documents that are favorable to them," and added, "With this approach, it is difficult to produce proper investigative results, and it is inevitable that the investigation will be criticized as a 'cover-up.'"

Another official expressed concern, saying, "Speed is of the essence in industrial accident investigations, but more than two weeks have already passed since the accident," and "If the warrants continue to be blocked, there will be no remaining means of investigation."

The investigation team is considering applying for a fourth search and seizure warrant. They are preparing to narrow the scope of the targets and specify the items to be seized more concretely than before.

Earlier, at around 3 a.m. on May 19, a female worker in her 50s died after her upper body was caught in a cooling conveyor belt while spraying lubricant at the SPC Samlip Siwha factory in Siheung. The investigation team completed the on-site inspection on May 27 and has already booked factory officials on criminal charges.