a day ago
Finland brings charges against Eagle S captain, officers over cable cuts
HELSINKI, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Finland's national prosecutor's office said on Monday it has brought charges against the captain and first and second officers of the Eagle S oil tanker over the cutting of undersea cables in the Gulf of Finland in December of last year.
The three are suspected of aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference with communications by dragging the ship's anchor for around 90 km (56 miles) across the seabed, a statement by the prosecutor said.
"The owners of the cables have suffered a total of at least 60 million euros ($69.85 million) in immediate damage in the form of repair costs alone," the statement read.
The defendants have denied committing the offences and consider that Finland lacks jurisdiction in the case as the cables were damaged outside Finnish territorial waters, the prosecutor said.
($1 = 0.8590 euros)
