Court hears captain and boatswain over damaged sea cables

Helsinki District Court, a Finnish court, is hearing a Russian captain and an Azerbaijani boatswain accused of damaging submarine cables in the Gulf of Finland on New Year’s Eve, Yle reported.

Prosecutors say the captain and boatswain of the Fitburg cargo ship caused a serious threat to Finland’s energy supply. The charges allege that the vessel damaged fibre-optic cables belonging to Elisa and Arelion Finland by dragging its anchor.

Prosecutors are seeking unconditional prison sentences of at least two and a half years for both men. They are charged with aggravated sabotage and aggravated interference with telecommunications.

The two defendants have denied the charges.