A Brazilian judge has denied a request from federal prosecutors against six Vale and two BHP executives over the Samarco iron ore dam burst, according to media reports.
Federal prosecutors at the Ministerio Publico Federal (MPF) said they will appeal the decision. MPF requested that the executives be charged for crimes due to the Mariana disaster, which killed 19 people and halted production at pellets producer Samarco, which is owned by Vale and BHP Billiton.
The judge said the executives couldn’t be included in the lawsuit as they didn’t have management or executive roles at Samarco at the time.
Earlier this year, another court prevented Vale, Samarco and BHP executives to be charged with homicide. If they were charged with homicide, they would likely face a trial jury. As a result, the executives will only be charged with environmental crimes.