South Korea's Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a review of the jail sentences handed down to four sailors in the country's worst oil spill in 2007.
A wayward crane-carrying barge slammed into Hong Kong-registered tanker Hebei Spirit, causing it to leak nearly 80,000 barrels of oil off South Korea's western coast. The spill jeopardized the ecosystem and the livelihood of residents in the area.
In December last year, the Daejeon District Court sentenced two Indian crew members of the tanker to 18 months and eight months in prison, respectively, for professional negligence and violating anti-pollution laws.
The court also handed down prison sentences ranging from 30 months to 18 months to two South Korean sailors of the barge and its tugboat.
The Supreme Court sent the case back to the appellate court, citing a legal misunderstanding.
The Supreme Court, however, upheld the verdict that fined the operator of the barge _ Samsung Heavy Industries _ and the owner of the tanker, Hebei Spirit Shipping Co., 30 million won ($22,000) each.
