Four named suspects over waste export

JAKARTA: The government has named three Indonesians and one Singaporean as suspects over a recent export of materials containing toxic waste into Indonesia, and has filed a complaint with the Bassel Convention Secretary in Switzerland after Singapore refused to take back the materials.

No details of the suspects were revealed. However, the three Indonesians are officials from fertilizer producer PT APL.

State Minister for Environment Rachmat Witoelar said on Wednesday the government would leave the decision to the United Nations-sponsored body, which is expected to carry out an independent examination to determine whether the materials contained toxic waste.

Singapore has reiterated that it has nothing to do with the export, while denying that the materials contained toxic waste. --JP