Bre-X workers questioned<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Police have questioned 12 Bre-X Ltd. employees
\nas witnesses in the case of alleged swindle at the Busang gold
\nmine in East Kalimantan, Antara reported yesterday.<\/p>\n
One of the employees, M. Ichsan Solichin, 20, told reporters
\nyesterday that he was summoned by the Samarinda police detective
\nchief Capt. Iswahyudi.<\/p>\n
In the summons letter, dated May 14, Iswahyudi said Solichin,
\na company driver, would be questioned as a \"witness in the
\nalleged swindle case, deviation and the abuse of procedure\" at
\nthe Busang gold mine.<\/p>\n
\"I don't know what questions the police will ask, but my
\nfriends are being questioned now,\" he said before the questioning
\nat the police station in Samarinda.<\/p>\n
The twelve workers included John Yohanes (liaison officer),
\nFujiyanto (mapping), Imut and Tugirin (logistics), Hupbi and
\nSumardi (security guards). Most of them worked at the Samarinda
\noffice.<\/p>\n
The police questioning was apparently not related to the
\nworkers' kidnapping of Bre-X officials. Police refused to
\ncomment.<\/p>\n
Workers at the company's Busang gold mine in Muara Ancalong
\nare still holding the local head of administration and personnel,
\nIdris, and surveyor Agus Tripadi hostage. Two Filipino
\ngeologists, Boby Ramirez and Manny Puspos, have also been taken
\nhostage.<\/p>\n
Police denied the kidnapping report, saying workers asked them
\nnot to leave the location as they feared no one could help them
\nsettle their rights.<\/p>\n
Canada's Bre-X Minerals Ltd announced last week it had
\nearmarked US$600,000 to pay the 488 workers it planned to lay-off
\nafter the Indonesian government's decision to freeze all
\noperations by Bre-X and its subsidiaries here.<\/p>\n
Tenggarong military district commander Lt. Col. Soekarno said
\nSunday the two geologists were at the Balikpapan police station.<\/p>\n
Police said Saturday at least 375 workers were still waiting
\nfor Bre-X officials to decide their fate in mid-May, but added
\nthey had received their salary in May.<\/p>\n
Bre-X financial director Bernhard Leod said Bre-X planned to
\nsell all its assets in Kalimantan, North Sulawesi, Jakarta and
\nAceh to meet financial obligations including severance pay for
\nits employees.<\/p>\n
But Ichsan said he did not receive his Rp 400,000 salary in
\nMay.<\/p>\n
\"We were told that our severance pay would be paid before the
\nMay 29 general election,\" said Ichsan. He said he still had no
\nplan to find a new job. (06)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bre-x-workers-questioned-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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