Justice accepts complaint against Vale, Tüv Süd and 16 other people

The Federal Court of Minas Gerais accepted on Monday (23) the complaint filed by the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) against Vale, the company Tüv Süd and 16 other people for the disaster caused by the rupture of the dam at the Córrego do Feijão Mine, in Brumadinho (MG), on January 25, 2019. The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) fully ratified the complaint offered by the Public Ministry of Minas Gerais (MPMG).

The criminal action is being processed in the Federal Court after the decision of Minister Rosa Weber, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), who determined that the case be analyzed by the Federal Court and warned about the risk of prescription of some crimes contained in the process, which could be extinguished on Wednesday (25).

According to the MPF, 16 directors, managers and employees of Vale and the company Tüv Süd will be liable for the crime of aggravated homicide (270 times, due to the number of fatal victims of the tragedy), crimes against fauna, crimes against flora and crime of pollution. Vale and Tüv Süd were denounced for environmental crimes against fauna and flora and the crime of pollution. In the petition, the MPF highlighted that it reserves the right to add to the complaint, at any time, to, if necessary, add or replace the accused or criminal facts.

“This is due to the fact that new facts and perpetrators may emerge during criminal instruction. The urgency of ratifying the complaint resides in the content of Minister Rosa Weber’s decision, which drew attention to the possibility of statute of limitations for some crimes,” explained prosecutor Mirian Moreira Lima in a note released by the MPF.

In a note, Vale says that it reaffirms its deep respect for the families directly and indirectly impacted by the rupture of Dam 1, in Brumadinho, and remains committed to repairing and compensating for the damage. The company reinforces that it has always based its activities on safety assumptions.