South East Fibre Exports (SEFE) was awarded more than $1200 in compensation by a Cooma court on Friday.
The Eden chip mill sought the compensation to recoup some of the costs incurred from a break-in by forest activists in January 2011.
Four activists were arrested and charged by police with one pleading guilty, two found guilty in court and the fourth failing to appear.
The court ordered that the two convicted activists cover the costs in what SEFE management is calling recognition for the financial impact that these illegal protests have on local employers.
SEFE said an electrical circuit box for the site’s pollution management system was smashed during the protest action and live wires created a potentially fatal situation.
Corporate affairs manager Vince Phillips said the outcome sent a strong message to activists.
“We believe in the right to protest, however, people’s safety was put at risk during the course of the break-in,” he said.
