Published : Aug. 29, 2016 - 18:04
[THE INVESTOR] The chief of Oxy Reckitt Benckiser Korea on Aug. 29 apologized to the victims affected by the toxic humidifier disinfectant scandal and pledged to provide as much support as possible.
“I would like to apologize to the victims and their families who were deeply hurt by Oxy’s toxic humidifier disinfectant,” Ataur Safdar, CEO of RB Korea said at the parliamentary questioning on the humidifier case aimed to enact a special law to prevent a recurrence.
Oxy CEO Ataur Safdar (right) pays a silent tribute while attending a parliamentary questioning on the toxic humidifier disinfectant case as a witness on Aug. 29. The Investor/Ahn Hoon
“We will give support to the victims and their families as much as possible for them to return back to their normal lives.”
Safdal also regretted the failed visit by lawmakers to the Reckitt Benckiser headquarters in UK.
“I personally tried very hard,” he said. “But the RB headquarters was responsible for all decisions regarding the visit.”
The humidifier case first came to light in Aug. 2011 after four pregnant women died of unknown lung failures. A government-led investigation said that chemicals used to clean humidifiers were to blame. The authorities confirmed 221 victims, 95 of whom died, after using the products by several consumer goods company, including largely Oxy.
By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)