Court delays Perhutani lawsuit

SURABAYA, East Java: The district court here delayed on Thursdaythe opening session of a class action lawsuit against state forestry firm PT Perhutani over a landslide that killed at least 26 people.

The panel of judges hearing the suit postponed the opening session until April 10 because of missing documents. Lawyers for Perhutani and the Mojokerto regent, who was also named in the lawsuit, failed to present necessary documents during the administrative check at the start of the hearing.

"We delayed the hearing until next Thursday to complete the administrative requirements and to see whether or not the lawsuit falls under the class action category," said presiding judge Edy Cahyono.

The families of the victims of the landslide are suing Perhutani and the local regent for negligence that led to the tragedy. They are demanding Rp 781 billion (about US$87.75 million) in compensation.

Days of heavy rain led to the mudslide, which buried a hot spring resort on the slopes of Mt. Welirang in Pacet. Rescuers found the bodies of 26 victims, but officials said not all of the bodies were recovered and that the final death toll was higher.

The plaintiffs accuse Perhutani of violating the law by converting a nearby protected forest into a production area, thus weakening the topsoil near the resort. -- Antara