MOSCOW, October 19 (RAPSI) – The Norilsk City Court in the Krasnoyarsk Krai in Russia’s North on Monday sentenced ex-Mayor of Norilsk Rinat Akhmetchin to 6 months of community service with a 15% wage deduction for negligence as to a fuel spillage in the region, the court’s press service told RAPSI.

The court held that the former Mayor had failed to take adequate emergency response and measures to liquidate the disaster.

According to case papers, on May 29, over 20 tons of petrochemicals spread over the thermal power station and flew into the subsoil and waters near the Nadezhinsky iron and steel plant that resulted in the environment pollution and harm.

Investigators claimed that the official’s failure to act led to the aggravation of damage caused to the region’s soil and water bodies.