ID :
34623
Tue, 12/09/2008 - 15:38
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/34623
The shortlink copeid
High court to rule on liability of Chinese oil tanker in Yellow Sea oil spill
DAEJEON, Dec. 9 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean high court is to decide Wednesday whether a Chinese shipping company can be held liable for the country's worst oil spill, prosecutors said Tuesday.
The court will decide whether the Hong Kong-registered Hebei Spirit Shipping Co.
will be held legally responsible for the accident that unleashed 12,000 tons of
crude oil into the Yellow Sea.
The oil spill last December was caused by a collision between an oil tanker owned
by Hebei Spirit and a barge owned by Samsung Heavy Industries Co. in waters off
Taean County, South Chungcheong Province. The barge had separated from two
tugboats and collided with the tanker.
The incident blackened beaches and destroyed fish farms along the west coast,
wiping out local businesses that depend on fishing and tourism for their
livelihood.
In June, the Daejeon District Court held the Samsung Group affiliate accountable
for the incident, acquitting Hebei Spirit Shipping of all criminal charges.
Hebei had pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors filed an appeal soon after the ruling, saying the oil tanker failed
to deal with the situation appropriately, though they acknowledged that primary
responsibility for the accident lies with Samsung Heavy Industries.
"If one of the two sides, both of which should be held accountable for the
enormous damage to the country, is found not guilty, it will foster
irresponsibility among foreign vessels and allow similar incidents to occur in
the future," prosecutors said earlier this month. They demanded a fine of 30
million won (US$20,675) for the Hong Kong company and a three-year jail term for
the captain of the oil tanker.
Hebei Shipping's lawyer defended the company, saying it could not be an
"accomplice in this incident as it is a victim. If its action was inadequate in
dealing with the incident, a claim for damages should be brought up in a civil,
not criminal court.
Prosecutors said they also asked the court to reject an appeal by Samsung Heavy
Industries, which was fined 30 million won by a lower court, with several
employees receiving between one and three year jail sentences.
ygkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
The court will decide whether the Hong Kong-registered Hebei Spirit Shipping Co.
will be held legally responsible for the accident that unleashed 12,000 tons of
crude oil into the Yellow Sea.
The oil spill last December was caused by a collision between an oil tanker owned
by Hebei Spirit and a barge owned by Samsung Heavy Industries Co. in waters off
Taean County, South Chungcheong Province. The barge had separated from two
tugboats and collided with the tanker.
The incident blackened beaches and destroyed fish farms along the west coast,
wiping out local businesses that depend on fishing and tourism for their
livelihood.
In June, the Daejeon District Court held the Samsung Group affiliate accountable
for the incident, acquitting Hebei Spirit Shipping of all criminal charges.
Hebei had pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors filed an appeal soon after the ruling, saying the oil tanker failed
to deal with the situation appropriately, though they acknowledged that primary
responsibility for the accident lies with Samsung Heavy Industries.
"If one of the two sides, both of which should be held accountable for the
enormous damage to the country, is found not guilty, it will foster
irresponsibility among foreign vessels and allow similar incidents to occur in
the future," prosecutors said earlier this month. They demanded a fine of 30
million won (US$20,675) for the Hong Kong company and a three-year jail term for
the captain of the oil tanker.
Hebei Shipping's lawyer defended the company, saying it could not be an
"accomplice in this incident as it is a victim. If its action was inadequate in
dealing with the incident, a claim for damages should be brought up in a civil,
not criminal court.
Prosecutors said they also asked the court to reject an appeal by Samsung Heavy
Industries, which was fined 30 million won by a lower court, with several
employees receiving between one and three year jail sentences.
ygkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
