Finland jails Fitburg captain and crew member over damage to undersea cables
Helsinki District Court sentenced the Russian captain of the Fitburg to three years and six months in prison and an Azerbaijani crew member to two years and 10 months for aggravated criminal damage. The court found they were responsible for the ship dragging its anchor for around 130 kilometres, damaging two undersea telecommunications cables; the ruling can be appealed.
Bottom line — The defendants were also ordered to pay damages jointly, but the conviction is not final.
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Yle reports the court found the captain had overall responsibility for the ship’s command and navigation, and sentenced him more heavily.
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The court dismissed the separate charge of aggravated interference with telecommunications, finding it was covered by the aggravated criminal damage conviction, Yle reports.
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Yle says the court found the anchor was raised only after Finnish authorities alerted the ship; it also found the crew continued for about two hours after first contact.
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According to Yle, the anchor’s path endangered seven other cables and a gas pipeline, though the court’s convictions concerned damage to two telecommunications cables.
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DW reports the defendants were ordered to pay about €1.9 million ($2.1 million) jointly, with the captain liable for about €85,000 more.
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The defendants denied wrongdoing and challenged Finland’s jurisdiction, according to DW; the court ruled it had jurisdiction because the alleged crimes had consequences in Finland, Yle reports.
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Euronews reports the Fitburg was sailing from St Petersburg to Haifa when Finnish authorities detained it on New Year’s Eve.
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Euronews notes that a separate case involving the tanker Eagle S was dismissed in October after prosecutors failed to prove intent.
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