Police grill Newmont manager over buyat case<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Police have named PT Newmont Minahasa Raya's maintenance and
\nproduction manager Phil Turner a suspect for his alleged role in
\nthe polluting of Buyat Bay, North Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Turner, an Australian national, is the highest Newmont
\nexecutive to undergo questioning as a suspect after the police
\nhad earlier charged the company's external relations manager,
\nDavid Sompie, environment superintendent Jerry Kojansow and waste
\nprocessing superintendent Putra Wijayantri, who are Indonesian
\nemployees, as suspects in the case.<\/p>\n
National Police Director of Specific Crimes Brig. Gen. Suharto
\nsaid on Friday that Turner was being questioned for the purpose
\nof ascertaining more information about the by-products of the
\ncompany's production process.<\/p>\n
\"Based on our previous questioning of the other suspects, we
\nbelieve that he (Turner) knows about the kinds of waste that were
\ndumped into the bay,\" said Suharto.<\/p>\n
None of the suspects had been detained as, according to
\nSuharto, they had been cooperating fully with the police.<\/p>\n
The police forensic laboratory found that heavy metals in bay
\nexceeded the safety levels set by the Office of the State
\nMinister for the Environment.<\/p>\n
Newmont has repeatedly denied the allegations, saying that at
\nleast three independent laboratories had concluded that the
\nlevels of heavy metals were far below the government limits.<\/p>\n
The government has formed a joint team comprising officials
\nfrom the Office of the State Minister for the Environment,
\nMinistry of Health and the police to take more samples from the
\nbay. The team is expected to report its findings after the Sept.
\n20 election runoff.<\/p>\n
A source at police headquarters said from the questioning of
\nDavid, Jerry, and Putra, the police had identified the roles
\nplayed by more senior executives of the U.S. majority-owned
\nmining firm.<\/p>\n
\"David, Jerry and Putra told the investigators that they
\nsubmitted regular reports to their superiors about the disposal
\nof tailings. We will keep investigating to find the person who is
\nprimarily responsible,\" he said.<\/p>\n
All of the suspects have been charged under article 41 of the
\nEnvironment Law (No. 23\/1997) for causing pollution.<\/p>\n
Under this article, an individual who is found guilty of
\ndeliberately contaminating the environment faces up to 10 years
\nin prison or 15 years if the pollution causes illness or
\nfatalities.<\/p>\n
Suharto said the police were now trying to establish the true
\nrelationship between David and his superiors, and find evidence
\nthat would enable them to charge Newmont with a corporate crime
\nas provided for by article 46 of the law.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-grill-newmont-manager-over-buyat-case-1447893297",
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