Employees of "Vodocanal" in Rostov oblast convicted for poisoning people with water

On July 1, the Novoshakhtinsk district court of Rostov oblast passed a sentence to four functionaries of the municipal company "Vodocanal", finding them guilty of violating the sanitary and epidemiological regulations which resulted in a mass poisoning of the town residents with potable water.

The "Caucasian Knot" reported earlier that, in August 2008, a mass poisoning of residents had taken place in Novoshakhtinsk. 103 cases of the disease with the diagnosis "acute gastroenterocolitis" were registered. 82 persons were hospitalized, including 54 grown-ups and 28 children and teenagers. According to the sick persons, they all drank natural water.

The investigation has established that Boris Badaev, director of  the Novoshakhtinsk municipal company "Vodocanal", his chief engineer Alexander Dementiev, Igor Terletski, chief of the water pipeline section, and Sergei Merenkov, chief of the sewage section, during the period from August 26 to 31, 2008, improperly fulfilled their duties and failed to monitor their subordinates who were responsible for the quality of potable water, which resulted in violation of the sanitary and epidemiological regulations and poisoning of more than 100 town residents.

Additionally, it was established that, during the period from August 1 to 18, 2008, Badaev and Dementiev were hiding the information on the supply of poor quality potable water in the distribution networks from the population and the authorities entitled to take measures on eliminating such emergencies, thereby threatening the life and health of people.

Based on cumulative offences, the persons found guilty were imposed punishment, a fine in the amount of 40,000 rubles to Badaev, and 30,000 rubles and 1 year and 3 months suspended imprisonment to Dementiev, with 1 year probation period, without deprivation of the right to occupy certain positions or to engage in certain activities.

Terletski and Merenkov were also found guilty by the court of violating the sanitary and epidemiological regulations which, by negligence, resulted in mass illnesses among people, and were imposed punishment in the form of a 20,000 rubles fine each, reports the Rostov oblast prosecutor's office sight.