Court delays Perhutani lawsuit

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