MOSCOW, September 9 (RAPSI) – Investigation into the former Mayor of Norilsk, a city in the Krasnoyarsk Krai, Rinat Akhmetchin charged with negligence over the fuel spillage disaster in the region has been completed, the Investigative Committee’s spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko reports.

The case has been forwarded to prosecutors in order to approve indictment against the defendant.

Investigators revealed that Akhmetchin knew about the fuel spillage but failed to take adequate emergency response and liquidation measures. They believe the official failure to act led to the aggravation of damage caused to the region’s soil and water bodies.

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.

Investigation into several other cases over the spillage against seven defendants is ongoing.