Newmont demands closure of case

JAKARTA: Gold mining firm PT Newmont Minahasa Raya (NMR) has demanded the police halt an investigation into the alleged pollution of Buyat Bay, North Sulawesi, after Jane Pangemanan retracted claims she made against the firm on Feb. 3.

Newmont lawyer Luhut Pangaribuan said on Monday that with the retraction, all investigation into the case should be halted and all charges dropped.

Jane, who earlier accused NMR of polluting the bay and causing illness to some villagers, said her accusations against the U.S.- controlled firm in the middle of last year were premature due to a lack of scientific evidence.

The police had used Jane's report as a basis for their investigation against NMR.

Brig. Gen. Suharto of the National Police said the retraction would not affect the case since the alleged pollution was not a general offense that required a complaint, but a specific environmental criminal act. --JP