Brazilian prosecutors in the state of Minas Gerais charged Vale’s former CEO Fabio Schvartsman and 15 other people with murder Tuesday in the case relating to the Brumadinho disaster, which killed thus far 259 people.
Executives from Vale and TUD SUD, the company attesting the safety of the failing Brumadinho dam, were also charged with murder.
While presenting their criminal charges against the Vale and TUV SUD executives, prosecutors said both companies had a list of the “top-10” dams at risk.
“Such a list was kept secretly, internally by Vale. A list of dams in unacceptable safety conditions. That was how these ten dams were known,” said William Coelho, coordinator of the prosecutors task force.
“Vale hasn’t paid any favor to either the state or the affected (people). Everything (Vale) has done has been determined by courts or is subject to a deal within a legal framework,” general prosecutor Antonio Sergio Tonet said.
Minas Gerais state governor Romeu Zema said earlier this week it hasn’t been easy to negotiate repairs due to the disaster with Vale.