Oil trading firm accused of toxic cover-up

The criminal trial against oil trader Trafigura Beheer opened today with the company accused of hiding the fact that its ship was carrying toxic waste while docked in Amsterdam in 2006.

The waste aboard the Probo Koala was eventually dumped in Ivory Coast and made thousands ill.

The company has denied responsibility, but paid victims’ claims in a British settlement as well as 152 million euros to Ivory Coast in 2007 to help clean up the waste.

Dutch prosecutor Luuk Boogert said today that Trafigura, the City of Amsterdam, a port services company and the executives in charge had all broken environmental laws and put “self interest above people’s health and environment” when allowing the ship to depart with poisonous cargo.