Former bosses of the operator of the Fukushima nuclear power plant have been fined 13 trillion yen (£80 billion) for failing to prevent a disaster.
Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) chiefs were sued by shareholders over the 2011 tsunami-triggered meltdown.
The court ruled that the executives could have prevented the accident if they exercised due care.
Tepco apologized but declined to comment on the court case.
“We sincerely apologize for the immense distress and deep concern that the accident at Tepco Holdings’ Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is causing to local residents and society at large,” the statement read.
The plaintiffs emerged from the Tokyo court holding banners reading “Shareholders Win” and “Responsibility Recognized.”
Her lawyers said they believe this to be the highest amount of damages ever awarded in a civil lawsuit in Japan.
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They conceded that 13 trillion yen was “far in excess” of the former boss’ ability to pay, but that the plaintiffs expect the men to pay as much as their wealth allows.
“An accident at a nuclear power plant causes irreversible damage to human life and the environment,” said Yui Kimura, one of the plaintiffs.
“The executives of companies that operate such systems also bear an enormous responsibility that cannot be compared to other companies.”
“I think the court’s ruling is that anyone who doesn’t have the determination or ability to take on that responsibility shouldn’t be a leader.”
The Fukushima nuclear disaster happened on March 11, 2011, when a massive earthquake off northeast Japan triggered a tsunami that resulted in a core meltdown.
It was the worst nuclear accident since Ukraine’s Chernobyl disaster in 1986, but was thought to be less harmful to local populations due to far smaller amounts of radioactive iodine being released.
No one was killed in the disaster, but the long-term effects of the radiation remain a matter of debate.
Tepco shareholders argued that the 2011 disaster could have been prevented if bosses had listened to research and taken preventive measures such as placing an emergency power source at a higher level.
The court ruled that nuclear power plant operators “have a duty to prevent serious accidents in accordance with the latest scientific and technical knowledge” and that those responsible had not heeded credible warnings.
The compensation from the former bosses is intended to cover Tepco’s costs for dismantling the reactors, compensating the residents affected and cleaning up the contamination.
The civil lawsuit was filed by shareholders in 2012.
According to the court’s ruling, the case is based on the “most comprehensive review of evidence into the cause of the Fukushima nuclear accident.”
“The defendants should offer their deepest apologies to residents and accept this ruling without appeal if they are willing to reflect on the devastating damage the nuclear accident has caused to many residents,” it said.
Separately, the Tokyo District Court found three Tepco executives not guilty of failure to predict the tsunami in a 2019 criminal trial.
That case has been appealed and the Tokyo Supreme Court is expected to rule on it next year.
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