Money United States: Former Michigan governor indicted in Flint water scandal

© AP - Cody Scanlan Former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has been indicted in Flint's polluted water case .

This is a new legal episode in the contaminated water scandal that began in 2014 in Flint, Michigan. Twelve people have died and many more have fallen ill from lead in the pipes used for the city's drinking water supply. The state of Michigan was already convicted last year, but now justice is prosecuting the former governor and 8 other people.

Rick Snyder is the former Governor of the State of Michigan. In the past, he has apologized for his handling of the city of Flint's water crisis. But here he is now charged with willful negligence. In 2014, it was he who decided to change the drinking water supply in this locality, in order to save money. The result: more acidic water had eaten away at the pipes and carried lead into the bodies of the inhabitants who consumed this poisoned water.

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Michigan ’s former health director, Nick Lyon, was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of nine people who got Legionnaires’ disease. He also pleaded not guilty on Thursday. The Snyder administration in 2014 switched Flint from Detroit's water system to the Flint River in an effort to cut

The former Michigan governor and several officials are to be charged following a new investigation into the Flint water crisis, according to the Associated The attorney general’s office has informed defence lawyers about indictments in Flint and told them to expect initial court appearances soon

Among the other accused, former collaborators of Rick Snyder, as well as people who worked at the time at the town hall of Flint or agents of the public health services of Michigan. The ex-governor's lawyer speaks of baseless charges and announces that his client is pleading not guilty.

It is a new judicial chapter in this case which has already led to the conviction of the State of Michigan to a fine of 600 million dollars, for its responsibility in the lead contamination of thousands of Flint residents. The poorest populations of the city had been the most affected by this health scandal.

► See also: United States: the inhabitants of Flint, a city with polluted waters, obtain justice