Newmont demands closure of case

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