Revealed: Brit faces dam deaths charge

A BRITISH mining boss is among those facing homicide charges over the deaths of 19 people in a Brazilian dam disaster.

Stephen Potter (pictured) is being pursued by the nation’s prosecutors over his involvement in the Samarco tragedy last year.

Potter, who works at Brazilian mining giant Vale, is among 21 bosses who have been charged with homicide for persistently ignoring warnings about the Fundao dam at an iron mine. It subsequently collapsed in November in what is considered to be the worst environmental disaster in Brazil’s history.

Bystanders described the wall of concrete appearing to ripple like waves before it crumbled away. A tidal surge of mud and mining waste crashed down, wiping out nearby communities and leading to the death of 14 miners and five villagers.

Investigators have since claimed bosses were told of safety failings at the dam. They also said there was no alarm system to warn villagers. Officials from BHP Billiton, Vale and their joint venture Samarco have rejected the charges and said they will defend their employees.

Potter, who attended the private Bedford Modern School before graduating from Imperial College in 1993, is director of global strategy at Vale.

He started his career at miner Rio Tinto before joining his current employer in 2009 and later serving as vice-chairman on the board of Samarco. If convicted, Potter could face up to 54 years in jail.