Charges laid over Pike River deaths
The charges were laid at the Greymouth District Court this morning and each carried a maximum penalty of $250,000.
The Department of Labour has laid 25 charges against three parties involved in the Pike River disaster.
The charges related to alleged health and safety failures at the Pike River Coal mine, following the tragic deaths of 29 miners nearly a year ago.
The charges were laid at the Greymouth District Court this morning and each carried a maximum penalty of $250,000.
A statement on the department's website said it was unable to name those charged at this point, as they either had existing name suppression orders in their favour, or had the right to apply for name suppression.
Identifying the specific charges could also lead to identification of the three parties charged, so the department was unable to specify any detail of the charges, the statement said.
"The department recognises there is high public interest in who has been charged and is taking urgent steps to ensure that where possible, names of the parties charged can be published."
Now that charges have been laid, a formal legal process is under way, so the department was unable to provide further information, the statement said.
Colin Williscroft
Thu, 10 Nov 2011
Thu, 10 Nov 2011
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Charges laid over Pike River deaths
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