court in Ivory Coast found

A statement from Trafigura said: "Concerning the delivery of dangerous goods, it is important that the court has noted that there was limited risk to human health from these slops, and indeed no damage occurred in Amsterdam."

Trafigura said it was considering an appeal.

A lawyer representing the company, Robert de Bree, said: "I think it's important to notice that the convictions relate to highly technical, complex legal matters and we will carefully study the judgement to look at the possibility of an appeal."

Another Trafigura lawyer, Michael Wladimiroff, was quoted by Associated Press news agency as saying the company believed the Marine Pollution Treaty applied and that the court had incorrectly applied the terms of another waste management treaty.

The firm also maintained that Mr Ahmed "did nothing wrong".
Out-of-court settlement

Greenpeace, which brought this case, has welcomed the outcome, saying it was a warning to firms not to export waste to developing countries.
Waste site near Abidjan, file picture The risk posed by the waste has been heavily disputed

Greenpeace toxics campaigner, Marietta Harjono, said that further legal action should be taken against Trafigura: "We must also be very clear that justice is not complete yet, because this is only the beginning, because Trafigura has not been brought to trial yet for the deliberate dumping of toxic waste in Africa."

One of those who fell ill after waste was dumped, Ivorian Guy Oulla, told the BBC: "I believe it is a very good decision because people should pay for what they do, you know. So, I agree with that decision. You know,buy ugg boots Classic Argyle Knit UGG Boots Ugg Stripe Cable Knit Boots we live in Africa and it could happen again because in Africa people do everything for money."

In 2008, a court in Ivory Coast found two non-Trafigura employees guilty of illegally dumping the waste.