Apple comments on factory worker death

Earlier today, reports out of China claimed factory worker Sun Danyong had jumped to his death following a Foxconn search of his apartment.  He had been carrying 4th generation iPhone prototypes and had lost one of the 16 he was carrying.  While this event is a tragedy, there no doubt will be many questions surrounding his death.  Apple has been steadily moving its MacBook manufacturing away from Foxconn and to Quanta of late.

Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet told CNET:

"We are saddened by the tragic loss of this young employee, and we are awaiting results of the investigations into his death.  We require our suppliers to treat all workers with dignity and respect."

Foxconn, for its part, also issued a statement of apology to the employee’s family.  In so doing, they’ve laid out some additional details.  According to the rough translation, the employee mailled the 16 iPhones to Apple, but Apple only recieved 15 of them.  There is also some investigations into the employee interrogations, detentions and "beatings". Machine translated:

It is reported that Foxconn pay-Yong Sun Dan mailed to Apple’s 16 short of a prototype iphone, Foxconn doubt that Apple have let the possibility of leaks.  Yong Sun Dan Foxconn in suicide during the investigation, sources said Yong Sun Dan was in an unlawful search of the investigation, detention and beatings. 

Before anyone goes conspiracy theorist, let’s wait for the results of the investigations…then go conspiracy theorist.