A Japanese court on September 19 ruled that three former executives of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) were t guilty of professional negligence in 2011 Fukushima meltdown. three executives, TEPCO chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata, former vice presidents Sakae Muto and and Ichiro Takekuro were to face five years of prison if convicted but ruling by Tokyo District Court ended only criminal trial in nuclear disaster which h kept tens of thousands of residents away from ir homes because of lingering riation contamination.

'Unjust Sentence'

Many protesters h gared before session began and expressed ir shock. A group of people reportedly stood outside court holding placards reing 'unjust sentence'. One woman allegedly said I cant accept this into a microphone while dressing rally. disaster is considered to be worst nuclear accident since Cherbyl. meltdown at plant was triggered by a 9.0-magnitude undersea earthquake which impacted Japan's rast coast. earthquake triggered an ermous tsunami which led to destruction of TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant on March 11, 2011.

RE: South Korea Drops Japan From 'white List' In Tre Row

RE: Japan: Almost 80,000 Homes Still Without Power A Week After Typhoon

RE: Japan Introduces Water Treatment Measures In Tokyo Ahe Of Olympics

However, one was reportedly killed in nuclear meltdown, but tsunami left 18,500 de or missing. TEPCO executives faced trial for deaths of approximately 40 hospitalized patients who died after having to be evacuated following nuclear disaster. It was allegedly argued that TEPCO could have prevented disaster if h it stopped plant to install safety measures ahe of tsunami. Prosecutors have also reported that three defendants h access to data that anticipated risk of a tsunami exceeding 10 meters (30 feet) that could trigger a loss of power and severe accidents. 

settlements

Several civil lawsuits have been filed against government and TEPCO. Some district courts have also granted dams to local residents, ordering TEPCO and government to pay.TEPCO has reportedly spent 9 trillion yen ($83 billion) on compensation related to disaster and it needs to spend an estimated 8 trillion yen ($74 billion) to decommission plant and 6 trillion yen ($55 billion) for decontamination. company has allegedly claimed that it could have been more proactive with safety measures, but that it could t anticipate massive tsunami that crippled plant. 

RE: 75-year-old Taxi Driver In Japan Rams Into A Sidewalk, 7 Injured

RE: Japan Introduces Water Treatment Measures In Tokyo Ahe Of Olympics

(With inputs from AP)