a new criminal procedure deemed inadmissible by the courts

For more than 25 years, the victims have been fighting to obtain a criminal trial on the asbestos health scandal and once again, Friday, May 19, justice says no to them. In the afternoon, the procedure launched was deemed inadmissible for vagueness. A huge disappointment for the 1,800 complainants. “I will not give up. I promised it to the victims. It pains me because many of the victims on their deathbed have made me promise to fight this fight until the end and I will fight it”said Pierre Pluta, victim and president of the ARDEVA (association of victims of asbestos), in a sob.

Asbestos causes between 1,000 and 3,000 deaths per year

Asbestos, classified as a carcinogen in the 1970s, was only completely banned in France in 1997. For nearly 20 years, this insulating fiber was used even though the risks were known. In this procedure, the victims’ associations wanted to try 14 people, former senior officials, scientists or industrialists, who, according to them, delayed the ban on asbestos. The victims’ associations have decided to redeposit a citation against those responsible for this health scandal which would cause between 1,000 and 3,000 deaths per year.