PF Court Acquitted Servicemen Charged Of Nerpa Accident

14.10.2011 Pacific Fleet (PF) Court Martial on Oct 14 acquitted two servicemen accused of accident happened to SSN Nerpa in 2008 and claimed lives of 20 persons, reports RIA Novosti.

Two submarine's crewmembers – commanding officer Capt 1 rank Dmitry Lavrentiev and Petty Officer Dmitry Grobov - were acquitted. Onboard firefighting system spontaneously operated in SSN Nerpa on Nov 8 2008 during trials in the Sea of Japan, and mixture of freon and carbon dichloride entered compartments. In total, there were 208 persons on board the sub. Twenty of them died as a result of the tragedy, other 21 were intoxicated.

Investigators charged Lavrentiev and Grobov of the accident. On Sept 30, the jury acquitted both figurants. In accordance with available evidence and jury's verdict, PF Court Martial found the servicemen not guilty of the tragedy.

Earlier on, PF Prosecutor Sergei Kolomiets told to RIA Novosti that the procuracy was not satisfied with the jury's acquittal.

As for him, the accident was a result of unauthorized activation of emergency firefighting system which was filled with poisonous carbon dichloride instead of light-toxic freon. In procuracy's opinion, the reason was human factor. Lavrentiev was incriminated excess of service power resulted in death of two and more persons by negligence (clause 286/3, RF Criminal Code, sanction provides up to ten years of imprisonment).

Grobov was charged of improper execution of service duties resulted in unintentional death of two and more persons (clause 109/3, RF Criminal Code). Also, investigation accused Grobov of involuntary infliction of harm to health of two members of trial team (clause 118/2, RF Criminal Code). The law sanction for the heaviest crime is up to 5 years of imprisonment.

PF Court Martial began hearings of this case late in May, 2011; all court sessions were held behind closed doors.