Reuters AlertNet Lite - BP settles but individuals still at risk-prosecutor

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BP settles but individuals still at risk-prosecutor

25 Oct 2007 20:59:41 GMT
Source: Reuters

HOUSTON, Oct 25 (Reuters) - While BP Plc <BP.L> has agreed to plead guilty to end criminal charges against the company for the deadly 2005 Texas City refinery explosion, individuals could still be prosecuted in the case, a prosecutor said on Thursday.

"This investigation is continuing," U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle told a Houston news conference, referring to the March 23, 2005, accident south of Houston that killed 15 people and injured more than 170.

BP has agreed to plead guilty to one felony violation of the Clean Air Act and will pay a $50 million criminal fine for the refinery explosion, the government said on Thursday.

"One of our aspects of the plea agreement is that they will continue to cooperate, make employees available, make documents available, any evidence we need," DeGabrielle said of BP.

"Beyond saying this -- the investigation is continuing -- I'll have nothing else to say on that specific point," he said.

Earlier, he said his prosecution theory had been one of collective responsibility, that "different individuals were aware of different risks" leading up to the blast.

"People up and down the management chain knew different things at different times and either failed to convey what they knew or didn't fix things that were broken," DeGabrielle said.

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Last updated:Thu Oct 25 21:01:23 2007