Police extend detention of Newmont employees

Police extend detention of Newmont employees

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Police investigators have extended the detention of mining firm
PT Newmont Minahasa Raya's executives for another 40 days despite
recent test results that have confirmed normal levels of toxic
materials near its mine.

The extension was signed by the North Sulawesi Prosecutor's
Office, which is now examining the case files submitted by the
police. The new period of detention officially began on Oct. 11.

National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said the police had
requested the extension, although the families, lawyers of the
Newmont employees as well as the U.S. ambassador, have repeatedly
requested their release, which was supposed to end on Oct. 13.

"We have extended their detention but we are open to their
request," said Da'i.

Despite being cooperative with the police in the investigation
into alleged pollution of Buyat Bay in Minahasa, North Sulawesi,
the police have been holding five Newmont employees, including an
American and an Australian, in jail since Sept. 23 after naming
them suspects.

Police have also declared the U.S.-based company's president,
Richard Ness, a suspect but have allowed him to remain at home
due to poor health, which requires regular check ups.

The U.S. government has said the detention of the men was
inappropriate and would adversely affect the investment climate
here.

Police can detain suspects without charges if they are deemed
uncooperative, considered flight risks and/or able to destroy
evidence.

A police investigator, however, told The Jakarta Post that the
investigators were now under a great deal of pressure following
the escape of the prime suspect in a US$185 million bank scandal,
Adrian Waworuntu, and thus wanted to avoid the same problems with
the Newmont five.

"We don't want to risk losing suspects when we are about to
transfer him or her to the prosecutors. We have come under
(public) pressure because of Adrian's escape," he said.

Adrian managed to escape justice following a long process of
review of his case file by the prosecutors.

Last week the police submitted the case files of the Newmont
executives to the North Sulawesi Prosecutor's Office, which has a
maximum of 14 days to examine them and decide whether they have a
solid case and charges can be laid.

Newmont's lawyer Luthfi Yazid confirmed the extension of his
clients' detention period.

"They will remain in police custody at the National Police
Headquarters (in South Jakarta)," Luthfi said.

Police want charges to be laid against the Newmont executives
under the 1997 environment law after a police team claimed it had
found a huge excess of heavy metals in Buyat Bay that exceeded
the standards set by the government.

Several independent examinations by international scientists,
however, have revealed normal levels of heavy metals in the bay
and among the villagers nearby.