Man electrocuted to death while charging smartphone – police

Rappler.com

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Man electrocuted to death while charging smartphone – police
The victim was found dead, clutching his charging smartphone

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Warnings about the dangers of using smartphones while charging often storm social media but for Mohamad Adam, a 41-year-old Indonesian, the dangers became a reality.  

Adam was found dead leaning against a wall while holding his charging smartphone on Friday, June 4.

Adam’s body was first discovered by his landlord, who at first thought he was relaxing but upon further inspection found him lifeless.

“After seeing the victim, the witness began to panic and informed the head of the local neighborhood, who subsequently reported the case to us,” said Bekasi Police Spokeswoman Inspector Evi Fatma, as quoted by local media.

Police took Adam’s body for autopsy to the Bekasi Regional Hospital to find out his official cause of death and said it is likely due to electrocution from the smartphone as no signs of violent aggression were seen in his body.

“From the initial results of investigators, there were electric shock wounds on the victim’s chest and the two palms of his hands. Therefore, we suspect that the victim died from electrocution,” said Fatma.

This is not the first incident of an alleged electrocution via smartphone.

3 years ago, Ma Ailun, 23, reportedly died while using a plugged iPhone in China.

Experts say the chances of dying due to electrocution from a smartphone are very low. Injury or death due to charging cellphones are said to be higher when consumers use counterfeit chargers or are in contact with water, since moisture lowers the body’s resistance to electricity.

Apple meanwhile, which led a private investigation into the case in China, questioned the police’s explanation that the phone was the cause of death.

The police have taken Adam’s phone and charger as forms of evidence but have not released any other statements regarding the brand of the cellphone or other causes that may have caused the electrocution. – Rappler.com

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