August 1, 2014
A citizens’ inquest panel has recently ruled that three former executives of Tokyo Electric Power Company should be indicted for neglecting to take appropriate measures to protect against such devastating tsunamis as caused the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011, Akahata learned on July 31.
The 11-member Tokyo No.5 committee for the Inquest of Prosecution delivered this ruling to Katsumata Tsunehisa, the chairman of TEPCO at the time of the nuclear disaster, and two former vice presidents, Muto Sakae and Takekuro Ichiro.
The panel in its decision pointed out that the three directors had received a report warning that a tsunami up to 15 meters high would damage the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant five years before the nuclear melt-down accident. It stated that if they responded to that warning properly, the Fukushima disaster would have been avoided.
After the Fukushima nuclear meltdown, 14,000 citizens, including Fukushima residents, in June 2012 filed with the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office complaints against the three executives as well as 30 TEPCO board members for professional negligence and other criminal charges. In September in the following year, the prosecution authorities decided not to bring any charges against the 33.
With the indictment decision by the citizens’ panel, prosecutors will reinvestigate the three ex-TEPCO executives.
Past related articles:
> TEPCO was aware of a possible large tsunami in Fukushima [August 25, 2011]
> TEPCO ignored warnings of a massive tsunami [March 29, 2011]
The 11-member Tokyo No.5 committee for the Inquest of Prosecution delivered this ruling to Katsumata Tsunehisa, the chairman of TEPCO at the time of the nuclear disaster, and two former vice presidents, Muto Sakae and Takekuro Ichiro.
The panel in its decision pointed out that the three directors had received a report warning that a tsunami up to 15 meters high would damage the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant five years before the nuclear melt-down accident. It stated that if they responded to that warning properly, the Fukushima disaster would have been avoided.
After the Fukushima nuclear meltdown, 14,000 citizens, including Fukushima residents, in June 2012 filed with the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office complaints against the three executives as well as 30 TEPCO board members for professional negligence and other criminal charges. In September in the following year, the prosecution authorities decided not to bring any charges against the 33.
With the indictment decision by the citizens’ panel, prosecutors will reinvestigate the three ex-TEPCO executives.
Past related articles:
> TEPCO was aware of a possible large tsunami in Fukushima [August 25, 2011]
> TEPCO ignored warnings of a massive tsunami [March 29, 2011]
