Seoul prosecutors have summoned the former head of Oxy Korea for additional questioning about his involvement in the toxic humidifier disinfectant scandal... that has taken lives in Korea.<br />Lee Min-young tells us more. <br />The former head of Oxy Reckitt Benckiser Korea was called in for a second round of questioning on the company's toxic humidifier sterilizer, which killed or seriously injured hundreds of people in Korea.<br />John Lee, who is currently the CEO of Google Korea, appeared at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on Tuesday.<br />Prosecutors are deciding whether to file for a warrant for Lee's arrest.<br /><br />Lee was first summoned two weeks ago, when prosecutors tried to ascertain if he was aware of the toxicity of PHMG, a toxic compound used in the sterilizer.<br />Lee was accused of failing to act after receiving complaints from customers about the side effects of the product.<br />He is also being accused of false advertisement, as Oxy Korea reassured customers the product was safe for children, even though that was unconfirmed.<br />Lee was the chief executive of Oxy Korea from 2005 to 2010,... when sales of the sterilizers were at their highest.<br />He has denied the allegations.<br /><br />While the prosecution questions the CEO, civic groups are trying to hold the government to account.<br />The non-profit lawyers group Minbyun on Monday accused the environment ministry of being aware of the potential dangers of the toxic ingredient, while turning a blind eye to that fact that customers were exposed to the deadly chemical PHMG.<br />Minbyun cited an environment ministry report from 2005 that noted the potential dangers of PHMG in Oxy products,... and said the was negligent because it did not conduct any follow-up testing.<br /><br />The humidifier disinfectant case has been rated as one of the worst scandals involving common household products with chemical ingredients.<br />It came to light after four pregnant women died of lung problems from unknown causes in 2011.<br />Lee Minyoung, Arirang News.
