RI files charges against Newmont<\/p>\n
Reuters, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesian prosecutors filed pollution charges against a local
\nunit of U.S.-based Newmont Mining Corp. and its American chief
\nexecutive on Monday, in a case that has raised concern among
\nforeign investors.<\/p>\n
"It has been submitted to the court," North Sulawesi
\nprosecutor Robert Ilat told Reuters.<\/p>\n
Newmont has denied it caused the pollution blamed for sickness
\namong villagers near a gold mine on Sulawesi island's Buyat Bay,
\nabout 2,200 km (1,400 miles) northeast of Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The trial would be held in Manado in North Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Robert Ilat said the charges related to "illegal waste dumping
\nthat caused pollution by negligence or deliberate (dumping)" and
\nhad been laid against the firm and its president director,
\nRichard Ness.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors recently dropped plans to file charges against
\nfive other employees -- an Australian, an American, and three
\nIndonesians due to lack of evidence.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors have said PT Newmont Minahasa Raya and its
\npresident director had the greatest responsibility.<\/p>\n
The case has alarmed foreign investors worried about the
\ndifficulty of doing business in Indonesia and raised fears about
\nthe risks for foreign company employees.<\/p>\n
Investment in mining has slumped in recent years largely
\nbecause of changes to mining laws that many investors believe do
\nnot offer enough protection.<\/p>\n
Many investors also say Indonesia is one of the toughest
\nplaces in the region to do business because of corruption,
\nexcessive red tape and tough labor laws.<\/p>\n
A Newmont spokesman said the firm had not been formally
\nnotified of the development on Monday.<\/p>\n
"We're very ... disappointed that charges are still being
\npursued against our executive, Mr Richard Ness," said company
\nspokesman Rubi Purnomo.<\/p>\n
Last month, Indonesia's environment ministry agreed to seek an
\nout-of-court settlement with Newmont in a separate multi-million
\ndollar civil suit.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-files-charges-against-newmont-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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