The indictment, filed about two years ago, charged Ashdod Port company with three separate pollution incidents in late 2005. The indictment noted that on three separate occasions during the months of November and December 2005, polluted and murky wastewater and solid particles were observed to be discharged to the pier and from there through a drainage opening to the sea.
In a plea bargain agreement, the Ashdod port company admitted to the offense and was convicted.
The company was fined NIS150,000, which the court instructed to be deposited in the Marine Pollution Prevention Fund and in addition was obligated to sign a NIS300,000 financial undertaking to refrain from committing similar offenses for a period of two years.
Judge Chaim Chadash noted in his decision that he had taken into consideration the fact that no actual damage appeared to have been done to the marine environment.