Schindler workers face charges over fatal accident

Monday 30th March, 06:35 AM JST

TOKYO —

Police sent papers on six employees of elevator and escalator manufacturer Schindler Elevator KK and maintenance company SEC Elevator Co to prosecutors Monday over an elevator accident in 2006 in which a 16-year-old boy was crushed to death. The Metropolitan Police Department established a case against two employees after learning that the company allegedly failed to take necessary safety measures such as appropriate handling of information about a similar past accident.

A case was also built against four SEC Elevator employees on suspicion of failing to detect a brake defect due to insufficient safety and structural checks of the elevator involved. The accident took place when Hirosuke Ichikawa, a student in his second year of high school, was about to back out of the elevator on his bicycle on the 12th floor of a housing complex in Tokyo’s Minato Ward, where he lived. The elevator suddenly went up with its doors open and he was wedged in the gap between the elevator and the building.

Schindler, a wholly owned Japan unit of Swiss elevator maker Schindler Holdings Ltd., was in charge of maintaining the elevator from its installation in April 1998 to March 2005. After another firm took over the maintenance checks, SEC became responsible for checking from April 2006. The accident occurred two months later.

The elevator in question came to an emergency halt in November 2004 due to abnormality in its braking system. The police believe that if Schindler conveyed the accident information appropriately to maintenance firms such as SEC, the fatal accident in 2006 could have been prevented.

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9 Comments

JeffLee at 07:51 AM JST - 30th March

Blame the foreigners. The accident occurred after a Japanese company took over maintenance duties, and faulty maintenance caused the accident, allegedly.

Interesting how the media plays up the foreign company, though its responsibility is secondary at best, and gives secondary mention to the real (Japanese) culprit.

Schindler at first refused to cow-tow (literally) because it said it did nothing wrong. I hope company fights this in court. Someone needs to stand up to Japan's evil prosecutors, who have already torpedoed the opposition party's election chances and enjoy a 98% percent conviction rate.
some14some at 07:59 AM JST - 30th March

I hope company fights this in court

I guess you mean to say International Court of Justice, if local Japanese court verdict is out before prosecution begins.
Himajin at 08:17 AM JST - 30th March

The accident occurred only 2 months after the other company took over for Schindler...checks are usually 3-6 months apart, and such problems don't happen overnight.It would appear that Schindler has at least some responsibility.
GJDailleult at 09:34 AM JST - 30th March

Actually, it reads more like the accident took place two months after SEC took over from the company that took over from Schindler. The accident was more than a year after Schindler stopped being in charge of maintenance.
jipster at 12:10 PM JST - 30th March

Schindlers lift...
jonnyboy at 12:15 PM JST - 30th March

Schindlers lift...

get your coat
Himajin at 12:45 PM JST - 30th March

GJ, you're right, my error.
combinibento at 03:42 PM JST - 30th March

Schindlers lift...

Classic. What's more, there is really a "Schindler's List" being provided to prosecutors. In any event, foreign company or not, this company was obviously negligent to some extent but I doubt it rises to criminal culpability. Based on this article, there was only one other accident in 2004. There does not appear to be a systemic failure to abide by safety measures but who knows. There is always more than what's printed.
BigInJapan at 11:41 AM JST - 31st March

Well, I wouldn't worry much. I killing your son or to beating a sumo player to death doesn't really count as a serious criminal act, then 1 accident in a country where every second lift is coming from this maker shouldn't taken more seriously.