The Public Ministry of Minas Gerais called for a restraining order on the assets of mining companies Vale and BHP Group in the amount equivalent to their joint venture, Samarco’s debt worth $9.47bn.
Samarco filed for bankruptcy in April as it failed to restructure its debt after a dam burst at a mine in 2015, killing 19 people and releasing toxic substances to the environment. Prosecutors have considered Vale and BHP equally responsible for any liability caused by their assets under control.