This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7687612.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Toxic waste verdict disappoints Toxic waste verdict disappoints
(about 2 hours later)
People in Ivory Coast have expressed disappointment following a trial over the dumping of hundreds of tonnes of toxic waste in Abidjan in 2006.People in Ivory Coast have expressed disappointment following a trial over the dumping of hundreds of tonnes of toxic waste in Abidjan in 2006.
They said Trafigura, the Dutch company that shipped the waste, should have faced more scrutiny.They said Trafigura, the Dutch company that shipped the waste, should have faced more scrutiny.
Two people were sentenced to 20 years and five years in jail over the waste, which was blamed for 17 deaths and widespread health complaints.Two people were sentenced to 20 years and five years in jail over the waste, which was blamed for 17 deaths and widespread health complaints.
Trafigura avoided prosecution by paying an out-of-court settlement. In 2007, Trafigura paid an out-of-court settlement relating to civil claims.
The company never admitted liability, saying the $200m (£108m) payment was made out of sympathy for the Ivorian people.The company never admitted liability, saying the $200m (£108m) payment was made out of sympathy for the Ivorian people.
It said it would not be commenting on Wednesday's verdict because it was not involved. In March 2008, the Ivorian Court of Appeal ruled that there was insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges against the company.
Denis Yao Pipira, head of the Federation of Associations of Toxic waste victims in Ivory Coast, said the truth had not really come out.
"It's absolutely necessary that the owner of the waste, the company Trafigura that chartered the Probo Koala boat [carrying the waste], have a chance to be questioned for their actions and to say which Ivorians they dealt with," he said.
Class actionClass action
Denis Yao Pipira, head of the Federation of Associations of Toxic waste victims in Ivory Coast, said the full truth of the incident had not come out.
"It's absolutely necessary that the owner of the waste, the company Trafigura that chartered the Probo Koala boat [carrying the waste], have a chance to be questioned for their actions and to say which Ivorians they dealt with," he said.
The BBC's John James reports from Abidjan that satisfaction over a rare verdict being reached was tempered by frustration that some people, including high-level political figures, were not held to account.The BBC's John James reports from Abidjan that satisfaction over a rare verdict being reached was tempered by frustration that some people, including high-level political figures, were not held to account.
"Me, as an individual person, I couldn't get to organise the papers to bring a boat of toxic waste into Abidjan," said one man. "It's not possible!""Me, as an individual person, I couldn't get to organise the papers to bring a boat of toxic waste into Abidjan," said one man. "It's not possible!"
"We don't have justice here in Ivory Coast.""We don't have justice here in Ivory Coast."
Trafigura chartered the ship carrying the waste, which was unloaded in Ivory Coast after a failure to agree deals to get it treated in the Netherlands and Nigeria.Trafigura chartered the ship carrying the waste, which was unloaded in Ivory Coast after a failure to agree deals to get it treated in the Netherlands and Nigeria.
It said it had contracted a local firm, Tommy, to handle the waste in good faith. A Trafigura spokesman said the Probo Koala was calling at a number of different ports, as part of a pre-arranged route to pick up and offload gasoline cargoes.
While the Probo Koala's slops were offloaded in Abidjan when the ship docked there, the company said independent experts had found the slops could not have caused the widespread alleged illnesses.
Trafigura said it had contracted a local firm, Tommy, to handle the waste in good faith.
The head of Tommy, Nigerian national Salomon Ugborugbo, was sentenced to 20 years in jail.The head of Tommy, Nigerian national Salomon Ugborugbo, was sentenced to 20 years in jail.
Essoin Kouao, who worked as a shipping agent at the Port of Abidjan and had recommended Tommy to the Dutch company Trafigura, received a five-year prison term.Essoin Kouao, who worked as a shipping agent at the Port of Abidjan and had recommended Tommy to the Dutch company Trafigura, received a five-year prison term.
Seven others were acquitted.Seven others were acquitted.
Only one person from the Trafigura group - N'Zi Kablan the head of their local partner - was called to be involved in the trial.Only one person from the Trafigura group - N'Zi Kablan the head of their local partner - was called to be involved in the trial.
He was supposed to be a witness but left the country days before the trial began.He was supposed to be a witness but left the country days before the trial began.
This is unlikely to be the last word on the scandal, our correspondent says.This is unlikely to be the last word on the scandal, our correspondent says.
A massive class action involving thousands of victims that is prepared in the UK could begin next year.A massive class action involving thousands of victims that is prepared in the UK could begin next year.