A district court in Finland has fined Vancouver-based miner Mawson Resources (TSX:MAW) €5,000 (C$7,000) following damage to a nature conservation more than three years ago.
The company was originally facing charges over destruction to a specific endangered plant species, but Finland’s Kemi-Tornio district court cleared Mawson of the matter.
However, the court ruled the miner was responsible for diminishing the diversity of life in the nature conservation where it had built hand-dug trenches between 2010 and 2011.
Two employees have been fined €5,320 (C$7,500) and €6,930 (C$9,700). Both the employees and Mawson have also been ordered to jointly compensate the Finnish government €748 (C$1,050) for testimony costs.
“Mawson is currently examining the verdict and will announce its view on the court ruling at a later date,” Mawson CEO Michael Hudson said in a December 31 statement.
“The case has been regrettable, caused unnecessary damage to the reputation of our company, and slowed down our work. Fortunately, the local community and our partners have supported us in the awareness that we operate according to the best practices in the field."
Mawson’s Rompas gold mining exploration project, located just south of the Arctic Circle, was acquired in 2010.
