District Court Acquits LG Electronics Executive Jo Seong Jin Of Allegedly Vandalizing Samsung Washers At A Trade Fair In Germany

A South Korean court on Friday dismissed the case against Jo Seong Jin, head of LG's home appliances division, for allegedly damaging Samsung's washing machines at a trade fair in Germany in 2014.

Yonhap News Agency reported Friday that the executive was acquitted after the Seoul Central District Court said the evidence proving that Jo intentionally sabotaged the washers was insufficient.  

"The prosecution failed to prove that Jo damaged the washers and he had the intent to do it," the court says.

The court added that the surveillance cameras proved Jo did not press the doors of the washers hard enough to break it.

"It is difficult to recognize that Jo's act broke the hinges," the court adds.

The district court said Jo is not guilty of vandalizing three Samsung washers at two retail stores in Germany last year. On the other hand, Samsung said LG staff were reportedly seen breaking the doors of Samsung's washers which was reported by shop clerks to the police authorities.

Meanwhile, Jo shuts down the allegation and said he is innocent. He said he was just testing the washing machines, citing that there were witnesses who would not allow him to do such an act.

"There were many people around besides those I was on this business trip with, and Samsung workers were looking on right next to us," he says, as noted by Telegraph Feb. 16. "They would not have stood by had I deliberately damaged a washing machine."

LG claimed Jo was just performing a routine test on home appliances products and did not intend to cause damage on Samsung's washers.

Aside from that, the local court also acquitted two other LG senior officials who were also prosecuted in connection with the incident.