Alstom faces a collective fine of nearly 45 million euros in Brazil. The French manufacturer was convicted along with other companies by a Brazilian court in a case of a collapse.
On January 12, 2007, workers were carrying out excavation work for the Pinheiros metro station in western Sao Paulo when a large sinkhole opened up. Seven people were killed and more than 90 buildings in the area had to be demolished or condemned. The decision, which can be appealed, also bans the convicted officials from working in the public sector and the companies involved from contracting public contracts in Brazil for five years.