Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency questions Heunghwa officials as witnesses
By Ahn Hyo-jung, The Herald Business
Police investigating the Seosomun overpass collapse have begun summoning contractor officials in a push to establish accountability for the disaster.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's wide-area investigation unit on Monday questioned officials from Heunghwa, the contractor overseeing the overpass demolition, as witnesses — the first such summons roughly one week after police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor launched their investigations following the collapse.
During the witness interviews, investigators are believed to have focused on the overall progress of the demolition work, how Heunghwa built and operated its safety management systems, and conditions at the site immediately before and after the accident.
Police plan to summon officials from supervision firm Suseong Engineering for questioning this week. Investigators are also coordinating schedules to call in site managers from Heunghwa's subcontractors.
Four people — including Heunghwa's on-site manager and other safety supervisors — have been booked on charges of negligent homicide.
Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Park Jeong-bo said at a briefing Sunday that investigators are "carefully analyzing materials secured through the scene examination and search and seizure." He added that the focus is on determining "whether those who have been booked bear any negligence" in the fatal accident.
As police examine structural problems throughout the construction process that led to the collapse, some observers say the investigation could expand to include Seoul Metropolitan Government officials, who are currently being questioned as witnesses.
an@heraldcorp.com
