Court convicts 7 companies and 6 individuals for accident at São Paulo subway construction site.
Those convicted must pay a civil fine and are prohibited from contracting with the Public Authorities or receiving tax or credit benefits or incentives for a period of 5 years.
By Elaine Patricia da Cruz, reporter for Agência Brasil - The Court of Justice of São Paulo decided to convict six people and seven companies for administrative misconduct. accident that occurred in 2007 at the construction site of Pinheiros Station on Metro Line 4-Yellow, in the city of São Paulo. At the time, the Line 4 works were being carried out by the Via Amarela Consortium.
Line 4-Yellow was inaugurated in 2010, with a length of 12,8 kilometers and 11 stations, connecting Luz Station in downtown São Paulo to the Vila Sônia neighborhood in the western zone.
The sanctions imposed by the 5th Public Treasury Court of the capital for the six individuals consist of the loss of public office, suspension of political rights for 5 years, payment of a fine, and prohibition from contracting with the Public Authorities or receiving tax or credit benefits or incentives for a period of 5 years.
The seven companies found guilty, including the construction companies responsible for the project, will have to pay a civil fine and are prohibited from contracting with the Public Authorities or receiving tax or credit benefits or incentives for a period of 5 years.
According to the ruling, the convicted parties will also have to reimburse the São Paulo Metropolitan Company (Metrô) in the amount of R$ 6,5 million; pay compensation for collective moral damages in the amount of R$ 232 million; and pay compensation for diffuse patrimonial damages in the amount of R$ 1,2 million.
In his decision, the judge considered that there were indications of irregularities in the execution of the work. “The drilling was carried out in an already weakened area, and the planned support structures were not immediately installed. This procedure proved to be not only dangerous but also negligent, and clearly exposed the site to the imminent risk of collapse,” wrote Judge Marcos de Lima Porta.
The accident at the construction site occurred on January 12, 2007, and opened a crater approximately 80 meters in diameter, causing the death of seven people.
A Agency Brazil The São Paulo Metro and state government sought comment on the conviction, but received no response. Via Quatro, which currently operates Line 4 (Yellow Line), said it would not comment on the case.