The Lubrizol company, indicted following the huge fire in Rouen, in September 2019, in which nearly 10,000 tonnes of chemicals burned, has requested the annulment of this indictment, we have learned this Tuesday.
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Lubrizol, who filed a motion for invalidity last August with the Paris Court of Appeal responsible for the case,
"intends to denounce the procedural irregularities of which it was the victim and to request the invalidity of various procedural acts and its under review ”
, according to this document that AFP was able to consult.
“The conditions under which the inspection procedure carried out”
by the Dreal (Regional Directorate for the Environment, Planning and Housing) took place,
“the flagrance investigation and the preliminary investigation have affected serious to the fundamental principle of the right to a fair trial and to the interests of Lubrizol France ”
, argues the request.
The company mentions in particular an
"indictment on the basis of alleged non-conformities"
because, in its view,
"flagrant irregularities and inconsistencies in the context of the inspection procedure of the Dreal, the 'flagrant investigation and preliminary investigation'
, these elements being, according to the company, constituting the nullity it claims.
"In a context of media urgency"
, the way in which the inspection and investigation were carried out is
"such as to characterize a lack of impartiality and loyalty, essential principles of the right to a fair trial"
, argues Lubrizol.
9,505 tonnes of chemicals burned
This request must be examined on March 31 by the investigating chamber of the Paris Court of Appeal, according to a judicial source.
The investigation is conducted by judges from the Public Health Center of the Paris court.
The Lubrizol company is indicted for
"spillage of harmful substances"
and for breaches having
caused "serious damage"
to the environment.
The fire, which occurred on September 26, 2019 on a site classified as Seveso high threshold, had caused an immense cloud of black smoke 22 km long.
Nearly 9,505 tonnes of chemicals had burned at this automotive lubricants site and at the neighboring Normandie Logistique site.
The fire caused no casualties.