A 25-year-old man who may have been tortured for losing a new iPhone prototype has committed suicide. Foxconn employee Sun Danyong reportedly jumped from a 12-story building in China after he was allegedly subjected to “unbearable interrogation techniques,” including solitary confinement and beatings.
According to AppleInsider, the section chief of the Central Security division has admitted that officers may have used “inappropriate interrogation methods” such as searching Sun’s house, holding Sun in solitary confinement and “possibly” beatings.
However, Central Security personnel insist that it was “unlikely” that Sun was beaten. Nevertheless, Foxconn has issued an apology, noting that the incident was an example of the company’s “internal management deficiencies.”
Club Cupertino has responded to the tragic incident by insisting that it required suppliers to treat all workers with “dignity” and respect.
“We are saddened by the tragic loss of this young employee, and we are awaiting results of the investigations into his death,” Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet told CNET.
It should be noted that Apple was recently criticized for not ensuring valid overtime rates at 45 of the 83 overseas factories manufacturing iPhones. In addition, 23 of the factories had reportedly refused to follow China’s minimum wage laws.
