Newmont wants travel ban lifted

Newmont wants travel ban lifted

JAKARTA: Six executives of gold mining company PT Newmont
Minahasa Raya, who were allegedly responsible for polluting Buyat
Bay in North Sulawesi, on Tuesday demanded that the State
Administrative Court (PTUN) order the Indonesian Immigration
Office to lift travel ban on them after the case against them was
dropped.

Luhut MP Pangaribuan, a lawyer for Newmont, said the travel
ban should not be further extended as local doctor Jane
Pangemanan, who reported the case, had retracted her claims.

"There is no longer any reason to prevent my clients from
leaving the country," Luhut said. "Jane has withdrawn her report
and according to Law No. 5/2004 the verdict that was handed down
in the pre-hearing trial cannot be appealed."

Luhut was referring to the verdict issued late last year by
the South Jakarta District Court, which halted the pollution case
against Newmont, arguing that the investigation carried out by
the police was invalid.--JP