A Tokyo court has acquitted three former executives at Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) of failing to prevent the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Prosecutors had argued that the executives - former-chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata, and vice-presidents Sakae Muto and Ichiro Takekuro - were aware of the risk of a major tsunami before the disaster but did nothing, leading to the deaths of 44 people.
They had called for five-year prison terms for the trio, claiming they could've prevented the nuclear disaster if they had implemented safety measures.
"It would be impossible to operate a nuclear plant if operators are obliged to predict every possibility about a tsunami and take necessary measures," Judge Kenichi Nagafuchi ruled.
This is the only criminal case to arise out of the disaster, that left nearly 18,500 people dead or missing.
US, South Korea to cut length, scope of military drills after Trump order
Central African Republic gold mine collapse kills at least 100
Israeli airstrike kills nine Palestinians at Gaza police station
Thai schools hold shooting response drills after deadly school attack
Bus-truck head-on collision in Parana, Brazil kills at least 21
