The trial of the captain of a Russian cargo ship is now underway in Rouen.
It is being reported that the Rouen Prosecutor’s Office is seeking a fine of €8m, plus confiscation of the ship (valued at €8m) plus a suspended prison sentence of 10 months.
The case arises from the departure from the port of Rouen on 25 February 2022 of the vessel the “Baltic Leader” which was Russian flagged and carrying wind turbines.
Part of the prosecution’s case is that the vessel was ultimately owned and/or controlled by Promsvyazbank which is a designated person under the EU’s Russian sanctions.