Dirty tactics: Samsung in a lather about LG execs allegedly vandalising its washing machines

Samsung Electronics has reportedly asked German prosecutors to investigate claims a senior LG Electronics executive vandalised its washing machines during a recent consumer electronics trade show in Germany.

Earlier this month, a number of German newspapers including the Berliner Kurier reported an incident in which “a group of people” allegedly damaged whitegoods at a Berlin store, Saturn im Europa-Center, during the IFA trade show.

According to South Korean News agency Yonhap, Samsung is now accusing the head of LG’s home appliance division, Seong-jin Jo, along with other senior executives, of vandalising washing machines on display in the department store.

While acknowledging its executives “did indeed visit the shop and take a look around at a number of products”, LG denies the accusations of vandalism and says it will cooperate fully with the investigation.

In a separate report, published by the Korea Times, the case had initially been closed with LG agreeing to purchase the allegedly damaged products. Since then, however, Samsung claims to have obtained footage of the executives reportedly damaging its products in another branch of the same department store chain.

While this appears to be a messy situation for German law enforcement, the truth of the matter will no doubt come out in the wash.