Appeals court says Hong Kong oil tanker responsible for oil spill

(ATTN: UPDATES with details of ruling, background)
DAEJEON, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- An appeals court, overturning the lower court's verdict, on Wednesday found a Hong Kong-registered oil tanker accountable for the largest oil spill in Korean history.
The Daejeon District Court handed down a one-year jail sentence and a fine of 20
million won (US$14,316) to the captain of the oil tanker owned by the Hong
Kong-registered Hebei Spirit Shipping Co.
The company's officer of the deck was also sentenced to an eight-month
imprisonment and a fine of 10 million won, while the company was fined 30 million
won.
Some 12,000 tons of crude oil leaked into the ocean last December following a
collision between the tanker and a barge owned by Samsung Heavy Industries Co. in
waters off Taean County, South Chungcheong Province. The barge had separated from
its two tugboats.
The incident blackened beaches and destroyed fish farms along the 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 but acquitted Hebei Spirit Shipping of all criminal charges.
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.
The higher court rejected an appeal by Samsung Heavy Industries, which was fined
30 million won by a lower court in June, with several employees receiving jail
sentences.
ygkim@yna.co.kr
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