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 "Jane has withdrawn her report and according to Law No. 5/2004 the verdict that was handed down in the pre-hearing trial cannot be appealed."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