The lawyer for victims of the Trafigura toxic waste scandal says the money paid in compensation may disappear into the pockets of Ivory Coast's corrupt regime. Martyn Day told Radio Netherlands there is a real chance they won’t see the 30 million euros promised them by the company.

Around 30,000 people around the city of Abidjan were affected when toxic waste was dumped from an oil tanker chartered by Trafigura in 2006. The sulphurous substance left people with serious health problems, including skin diseases, sickness and diarrhea.

The Dutch-based oil giant initially insisted the waste – a byproduct of cheap oil brought from Mexico to be refined and stored aboard the infamous Probo Koala – was not harmful, but this year agreed to a massive out-of-court settlement with the victims.

The company sent the money to a bank in Sierra Leone and law firm Leigh Day, which represents the victims, set up an elaborate system for paying it to its 30,000 clients using cash cards with protected PIN numbers for those who don’t have bank accounts.

But this week a man claiming to represent the victims asked for the process to be halted and for the money to be transferred to his account instead. Lawyer Martin Day says the bigger issue is one of state corruption.

“Although it was an individual making the application, we are very worried now that the state is in favour of the money being transferred out of the claimants’ accounts and being transferred over to somebody else… If the money was to be transferred there’s a very real risk the claimants will receive absolutely nothing.”

Martyn Day says victims have already waited three years for this situation to be resolved, and that it would be “the most terrible sting in the tail” if they did not eventually receive the cash.

His firm is pressuring the Ivory Coast’s court not to allow the transfer to go ahead – but the State Prosecutor there has already advised the cash be given to the unnamed man. A decision is expected by the end of the week.

Trafigura said it was gravely concerned about the latest “unfortunate development” and hopes Leigh Day can resolve the situation.

(photo: EPA/LEGNAN KOULA)