Japanese court rules against Fukushima operator Tepco in landmark suicide case
Fukushima nuclear operator ordered to pay HK$3.65m in damages to bereaved husband
A Japanese court has ruled that Fukushima nuclear operator Tokyo Electric was responsible for a woman's suicide after the March 2011 disaster and must pay compensation, in a landmark ruling that could set a precedent for other claims against the utility.
The civil suit by Mikio Watanabe claimed that Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) was to blame for the July 2011 death of his wife, Hamako, 58, who doused herself in kerosene and set herself on fire after falling into depression.
We will study the verdict. We pray that Hamako Watanabe has found peace
The district court in Fukushima ruled in favour of Watanabe, a court official said. Kyodo news reported that Tepco was ordered to pay 49 million yen (HK$3.65 million) in compensation. Watanabe had sought about 91 million yen in damages.
The court decision is the latest blow for the utility, which was bailed out with taxpayer funds in 2012 and expects to spend more than US$48 billion in compensation for the nuclear disaster.
The triple nuclear meltdowns forced more than 150,000 people from their homes, about a third of whom remain in temporary housing.
"We would like to deeply apologise again for the disruption and concern that the Fukushima Daiichi accident caused to many people, first and foremost the people of Fukushima," Tepco said in a statement following the verdict.
"We understand that there has been a verdict handed down in this case. We will study the verdict and respond in a sincere way," it added.