20 Year Prison Term for Dumping Toxic Waste
Two men have been sentenced to prison for dumping toxic waste two years ago that killed seventeen people in Abidjan, Western Africa.
Salomon Ugborugbo, 39, director of a local company was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Ivorian shipping agent Desire Kouao was sentenced to 5 years in jail for his involvement as an accomplice.
But Greenpeace only partially happy with the verdict. They wanted to see Trafigura, the company who originally wanted the toxic waste disposed of, part of the criminal prosecution.
Trafigura chartered a boat containing 500 cubic meters of toxic waste to Abidjan, then hired a local company to dispose of the waste.
As a result, seventeen people died and more than 100,000 people sought medical attention.
Marietta Harjono from Greenpeace said about the case ”This is nothing more than a showcase,” she said. “And we are very disappointed that Trafigura, the big fish that actually decided to dump the toxic waste, is not part of the criminal prosecution.”
Trafigura had originally tried disposing of the waste in the Netherlands before sending it to Africa. As a result, the company faces criminal charges in the Netherlands.
Tags: africa, Greenpeace, water pollution
