Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP
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.
Lebanon braces for third day of unrest as rage sweeps country
Boris Johnson faces historic Brexit vote in Parliament
All-female spacewalk marks milestone for NASA
Barcelona rocked by violence as protesters clash with police
Dam failure kills at least 11 at Siberian gold mine
Hong Kong braces for weekend protests
Mexican troops forced to free drug lord's son after shootout
Boris Johnson faces parliament showdown over new Brexit deal
