Google Korea CEO summoned in toxic sterilizer probe

John Lee (C), former CEO of the South Korean unit of Oxy Reckitt Benckiser, appears at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office in southern Seoul on May 23, 2016, to face questioning over the British firm’s toxic humidifier sterilizer that has allegedly resulted in scores of deaths and illnesses here since 2011. (Yonhap)

SEOUL (Yonhap) — The CEO of Google Korea who formerly headed the local unit of Oxy Reckitt Benckiser was summoned by prosecutors Monday to face questions over the British firm’s toxic humidifier sterilizers which resulted in numerous deaths and illnesses here.

John Lee appeared before the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office in southern Seoul as a suspect in the snowballing case that involves scores of deaths since 2011, including some pregnant women.

“My prayers and condolences go out to the victims and their families,” the Korean-American told reporters before entering the office. “I will fully cooperate with the investigation.”

Lee headed the South Korean unit of the consumer goods company from June 2005 to May 2010 when sales of the sterilizer product were greatest.

Prosecutors said they will grill Lee on why the company continued selling the product despite complaints from consumers over its side effects.

The summons came a few days after Ulrich Hosterbach, the finance director of Oxy Korea, was summoned last week as the first among a number of foreign executives in relation to the toxic sterilizer probe.

The humidifier disinfectant case, one of the worst scandals involving a consumer product using chemicals, came to light after four pregnant women died of lung problems from unknown causes in 2011. A government-led investigation confirmed a connection between people who died of lung problems and the chemicals used to clean household humidifiers.

South Korea confirmed 221 people as victims. Among them, 177 had used Oxy products. Out of 90 deaths, 70 are believed to have been caused by products made by Oxy.