MOSCOW, March 19 (RAPSI) – Acting director of the Mirny Mining and Processing Division Alexander Kisilichin and former chief engineer of the enterprise Alexander Mann have been sentenced to 2.5 years in penal colony settlement each in a case over flooding of the underground mine Mir in Russia’s Yakutia and death of its employees, the Investigative Committee’s press service reports.

The men guilty of breaching mining safety rules resulted in the death of 8 people and serious damage have been also banned to hold managing posts for 3 years, the statement reads.

In July 2017, the signs of water irruption were shown in the mine because of mining-and-geological situation downfall. Investigators claim that the defendants knew about it but failed to take steps to evacuate mine employees that resulted in the death of eight people on August 4, 2017.

Damage caused by the flooding was estimated at more than 10 billion rubles (about $130 million). To recompense for the loss, assets of the defendants were seized.

Mirny Mining and Processing Division carries out diamond mining operations at Mir and International kimberlite pipes, Vodorazdelnye Galechniki, Irelyakh and Gornoye placer deposits, and Tailings of Processing Plant No. 5 (technogenic deposit). It was founded in 1957 and is the oldest division of ALROSA dimond producer, according to the enterprise’s website.