Police extend detention of Newmont employees<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Police investigators have extended the detention of mining firm
\nPT Newmont Minahasa Raya's executives for another 40 days despite
\nrecent test results that have confirmed normal levels of toxic
\nmaterials near its mine.<\/p>\n
The extension was signed by the North Sulawesi Prosecutor's
\nOffice, which is now examining the case files submitted by the
\npolice. The new period of detention officially began on Oct. 11.<\/p>\n
National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said the police had
\nrequested the extension, although the families, lawyers of the
\nNewmont employees as well as the U.S. ambassador, have repeatedly
\nrequested their release, which was supposed to end on Oct. 13.<\/p>\n
\"We have extended their detention but we are open to their
\nrequest,\" said Da'i.<\/p>\n
Despite being cooperative with the police in the investigation
\ninto alleged pollution of Buyat Bay in Minahasa, North Sulawesi,
\nthe police have been holding five Newmont employees, including an
\nAmerican and an Australian, in jail since Sept. 23 after naming
\nthem suspects.<\/p>\n
Police have also declared the U.S.-based company's president,
\nRichard Ness, a suspect but have allowed him to remain at home
\ndue to poor health, which requires regular check ups.<\/p>\n
The U.S. government has said the detention of the men was
\ninappropriate and would adversely affect the investment climate
\nhere.<\/p>\n
Police can detain suspects without charges if they are deemed
\nuncooperative, considered flight risks and\/or able to destroy
\nevidence.<\/p>\n
A police investigator, however, told The Jakarta Post that the
\ninvestigators were now under a great deal of pressure following
\nthe escape of the prime suspect in a US$185 million bank scandal,
\nAdrian Waworuntu, and thus wanted to avoid the same problems with
\nthe Newmont five.<\/p>\n
\"We don't want to risk losing suspects when we are about to
\ntransfer him or her to the prosecutors. We have come under
\n(public) pressure because of Adrian's escape,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Adrian managed to escape justice following a long process of
\nreview of his case file by the prosecutors.<\/p>\n
Last week the police submitted the case files of the Newmont
\nexecutives to the North Sulawesi Prosecutor's Office, which has a
\nmaximum of 14 days to examine them and decide whether they have a
\nsolid case and charges can be laid.<\/p>\n
Newmont's lawyer Luthfi Yazid confirmed the extension of his
\nclients' detention period.<\/p>\n
\"They will remain in police custody at the National Police
\nHeadquarters (in South Jakarta),\" Luthfi said.<\/p>\n
Police want charges to be laid against the Newmont executives
\nunder the 1997 environment law after a police team claimed it had
\nfound a huge excess of heavy metals in Buyat Bay that exceeded
\nthe standards set by the government.<\/p>\n
Several independent examinations by international scientists,
\nhowever, have revealed normal levels of heavy metals in the bay
\nand among the villagers nearby.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-extend-detention-of-newmont-employees-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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