Reckitt Benckiser executive slapped while apologising for toxic disinfectant deaths in South Korea

Around 100 people were killed after coming into contact with the deadly humidifier disinfectant

Alexandra Sims
Tuesday 03 May 2016 00:17 BST
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Atar Safdar, the head of Oxy Reckitt Benckiser Korea, is surrounded by the aggreived relatives of victims as he bows during a press conference at a hotel in Seoul
Atar Safdar, the head of Oxy Reckitt Benckiser Korea, is surrounded by the aggreived relatives of victims as he bows during a press conference at a hotel in Seoul

An executive of British-based firm Reckitt Benckiser has been slapped by a protester as he offered a public apology for selling a deadly disinfectant that killed at least 100 people in South Korea.

Ataur Safdar, head of Reckitt Benckiser Korea and Japan, was shouted at and physically attacked during a news conference at a Seoul hotel, which marked the first public acceptance of responsibility by the firm for its role in selling the disinfectant, called Oxy Ssak Ssak.

Reckitt Benckiser was ordered to withdraw its product from the market in 2011 after South Korean authorities suggested a link between chemicals in the disinfectant used to sterilise home humidifiers and lung conditions.

The company has promised to compensate all those who died as well as hundreds of others injured, setting up a multimillion dollar "humanitarian fund" last month. Many of the victims were children and pregnant women.

The company had previously been condemned for refusing to take responsibility.

Mr Safdar said the company now accepted responsibility and wanted to make amends.

“Today's apology was about acceptance of responsibility for the harm that Oxy HS [humidifier sterilizers)] has caused," said Mr Safdar.

Atar Safdar, the head of Oxy Reckitt Benckiser Korea, bows during a press conference at a hotel in Seoul

"This is the first time we are accepting the fullest responsibility, and we are offering a complete and full apology.

"We were late, five years have passed, we are also apologising far too late. This is what we are apologising about."

During his speech a man stepped on stage, shouting and slapping Mr Safdar on the back of the neck.

"This is heartbreaking," Mr Safdar said. "I apologise again. I would request that I am allowed to finish my statement, please."

In response, another man who took to the stage shouted: "It's too late”.

Another protestor approached the stage wearing a green oxygen tank.

In a press conference outside the prosecutors' office, victims and campaigners lined up the products made by Reckitt Benckiser and asked the public to boycott them.

The apology came as South Korean prosecutors investigate Reckitt Benckiser and around a dozen other companies for selling or manufacturing unsafe disinfectants.

Around 500 people are believed to have died or been injured after coming into contact with the toxic chemicals used in humidifier disinfectants manufactured and sold in South Korea between 2001 and 2011.

South Korea is understood to be the only country where the products were sold, according to a government official.

Civic groups representing the victims said they planned to file a complaint against Rakesh Kapoor, the British company's chief executive officer, and the company's seven other board members for failing to conduct safety tests before the disinfectant's launch in 2001 and until sales were discontinued in 2011.

The victims have already filed a complaint against 10 disinfectant manufacturers and 19 companies that sold the products.

An Australian court recently ordered Reckitt Benckiser to pay 1.7 million Australian dollars ($1.3 million) in penalties after ruling the company misled consumers about the effectiveness of a popular painkiller.

Reckitt Benckiser's global brands include Dettol antiseptic wash and Durex condoms.

Additional reporting by agencies

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