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3 ex-execs of utility charged in Fukushima disaster 3 ex-execs of utility charged in Fukushima disaster
(about 2 hours later)
TOKYO — Three former Japanese utility executives were formally charged for alleged negligence in the Fukushima nuclear disaster Monday, becoming the first ones from the company to face a criminal court. TOKYO — Three former Japanese utility executives were formally charged Monday with negligence in the Fukushima nuclear disaster, becoming the first officials from the company to face a criminal trial.
A group of five court-appointed lawyers on Monday indicted Tsunehisa Katsumata, chairman of Tokyo Electric power Co. at the time of the crisis, along with two other TEPCO executives, according to the lawyers’ offices. The three men, charged with professional negligence, were not arrested. Five court-appointed lawyers on Monday indicted Tsunehisa Katsumata, chairman of Tokyo Electric power Co. at the time of the crisis, and two other TEPCO executives, according to the lawyers’ offices. The three men, charged with professional negligence, were not taken into custody.
The indictment follows a decision by an 11-member judicial committee in July to send the three men to a criminal court after prosecutors had dropped the case twice, saying they could not obtain sufficient evidence to establish criminal case against them. The indictment follows a decision in July by an 11-member judicial committee to send the three men to a criminal court after prosecutors dropped the case twice, saying they could not obtain sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against them.
Proving criminal responsibility for failing to prevent the Fukushima meltdowns may be difficult, but many people including the residents affected by the disaster say they hope that any trial would reveal more facts about the disaster and TEPCO’s role that the utility has not disclosed. In Japan, a court-appointed judicial committee has the final say about criminal complaints filed to a prosecutors’ office that are then dropped.
Three reactors at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant damaged in the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami suffered meltdowns, triggering massive radiation leaks that forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate. Proving criminal responsibility for failing to prevent the Fukushima meltdowns may be difficult, but many people including residents of the area affected by the disaster say they hope any trial will reveal information about the disaster and TEPCO’s role that has not been disclosed by the utility.
The indictment document said Katsumata, 75, and Sakae Muto, 65 and Ichiro Takekuro, 69, who were vice president and technical adviser, respectively — failed to foresee and take precautionary steps for the tsunami, resulting in the deaths of 44 hospitalized elderly people during evacuation period and injuries to 13 defense soldiers responding to the emergency, Kyodo News reported. Three reactors at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant suffered meltdowns after being damaged by a massive March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The accident released large amounts of radiation that forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate.
The judicial committee said in July that the three men neglected to take sufficient measures even though they were aware of the risk of a massive tsunami to the Fukushima plant by 2009. It said they should be charged with professional negligence resulting in death and injury during the accident and its aftermath. TEPCO and government officials say nobody died of a direct impact from radiation leak caused by the accident. The indictment said Katsumata, 75, along with Sakae Muto, 65, and Ichiro Takekuro, 69, who were vice president and technical adviser, respectively — failed to foresee and take precautionary steps for the tsunami, resulting in the deaths of 44 hospitalized elderly people during the evacuation period and injuries to 13 soldiers who responded to the emergency, Kyodo News service said.
In Japan, a court-appointed judicial committee has the final say about a criminal complaint filed to a prosecutors’ office and then dropped. The judicial committee said in July that the three men were aware by 2009 of the risk of a massive tsunami to the Fukushima plant. It said they should be charged with professional negligence resulting in death and injury during the accident and its aftermath. TEPCO and government officials say no one died as a direct result of radiation released by the accident.
Government and parliamentary investigative reports of the accident have said TEPCO’s lack of a safety culture and weak risk management, including an underestimate of tsunami threats, led to the disaster. They said TEPCO ignored tsunami safety measures amid collusion with then-regulators and lax oversight. Reports from government and parliamentary investigations of the accident have said a lack of a safety culture in TEPCO and weak risk management, including an underestimation of a tsunami threat, led to the disaster. They said TEPCO ignored tsunami safety measures amid a collusion with then-regulators and lax oversight.
TEPCO declined to comment on Monday. TEPCO declined to comment Monday.
The utility has said it could have been more proactive on safety measures, but that a tsunami of the magnitude that crippled the plant could not have been anticipated.The utility has said it could have been more proactive on safety measures, but that a tsunami of the magnitude that crippled the plant could not have been anticipated.
While struggling with a cleanup at the wrecked Fukushima plant that will take decades, TEPCO is hoping to restart two reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in northern Japan. While struggling with the decades-long cleanup of the wrecked Fukushima plant, TEPCO is hoping to restart two nuclear reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in northern Japan.
The disaster resulted in Japan taking all of its nuclear power reactors offline for checks. Of the 43 workable reactors in Japan, four have been put back online since last year, while the others are still offline for repairs or safety checks. The disaster resulted in Japan taking all of its nuclear power reactors offline for checks. Of the country’s 43 workable reactors, four have been put back online since last year, while the others are still offline for repairs or safety checks.
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This story has been corrected to show number of reactor restarts at four, not three. This story has been corrected to show that the number of restarted reactors is four, not three.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.