BMW Korea investigated for alleged cover up of fire-inducing defects

About 20 prosecutors and investigators raided BMW Korea's main office and server storage in Seoul on Wednesday to investigate alleged attempts to cover up mechanical defects responsible for engine fires over the past years.

The Seoul prosecutors were securing additional data and evidence.

Police investigators had previously raided the same places during their 2018 to 2019 probes over 40 local victims of engine fires filed complaints. The case had been handed over to prosecutors in November last year.

The prosecutors were said to be planning to question call in BMW Korea Chairman Kim Hyo-joon and other company executives after data seized from the raid.

The team that investigated the company found defects in the cars' exhaust gas recirculation coolers and pipes that most likely caused the engine fires.

In 2018, investigators concluded that BMW Korea concealed fire hazards and belatedly recalled 22,670 vehicles.

The South Korean government fined BMW Korea 11.2 billion won for the delayed recalls.