Seoul: Prosecutors said Sunday they plan to indict five people and two corporate entities this week in connection with South Korea's largest oil spill that devastated the livelihoods of tens of thousands of local residents.
Details of the legal action to be taken will be announced later today when the prosecution unveils the results of its investigation, they said.
Over 12,000 tons of crude oil were spilled into waters off Taean, a county on South Korea's central west coast, in early December when a Samsung Heavy Industries barge that became loose from its tugboats struck a Hong Kong-registered oil tanker, Hebei Spirit.
According to the prosecutors' office in Seosan, the five people to be held legally responsible for the accident are the captain of the 11,800-ton barge, the captains of the two tugboats, and the captain and the navigator of the Hebei Spirit.
Samsung Heavy Industries Co., the owner of the barge, and Hebei Ocean Shipping Co., will also be held responsible for the accident, they said.
Devastated by the disaster, three local fish farmers and sellers committed suicide. Local residents demand that the companies involved should take unlimited responsibility for the environmental and other damages incurred. [21/01/08]
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