SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Petrochemical company Braskem and 19 people have been formally charged by Brazilian police after an investigation into sinking land in the city of Maceio linked to salt mining activities, according to police and documents seen by Reuters.
Braskem mines began extracting rock salt in the northeastern town of Maceio in the 1970s, but operations were halted from 2019 after authorities said it contributed to the sinking of five neighborhoods. Thousands of families had to be removed from the affected areas.
In a statement Friday, police said 20 suspects had been charged as the investigation concluded, but the authority did not name the company or those formally charged.
However, a federal police document seen by Reuters shows that Braskem’s service providers and executives are among the suspects, as well as Braskem itself.
The charges include the crimes of pollution, damage to public property and the use of false reports, another document showed.
Braskem said in a statement earlier on Friday that it had not analyzed the entire police report, but added that it contributed to the investigation and “has always acted in line with the laws and regulations of the sector.”
The company did not immediately comment on the additional documents obtained by Reuters.
In recent years, Braskem has paid billions of reais in reparations to Maceio and its residents.
