Ruling by the Criminal Division of Belgium’s Appeals Court
March 5, 2008





Following the lawsuit filed in April 2002 by four Myanmar nationals alleging complicity in crimes against humanity, the Criminal Division (Chambre des Mises en Accusation) of Belgium’s Appeals Court (Cour d’Appel) subsequently terminated the proceedings against Total and two of its executives.

On two occasions, in June 2005 and March 2007, the Belgian Supreme Court (Cour de Cassation) confirmed that Belgian courts did not have jurisdiction. The Criminal Division based its ruling on the principle of res judicata.