Suit against forestry minister adjourned

PALU, Central Sulawesi: The first session of the lawsuit of PT Iradat Puri against the Forestry Minister and the Central Sulawesi provincial administration at the District Court in Palu was on Saturday adjourned until Nov. 25.

The court session of the lawsuit involving a demand for more than Rp 410 billion in damages by the plaintiff was adjourned at the request of the defendants' lawyers only minutes after the court was declared open by presiding Judge Djufri Baidjuri.

The defendants said they were prepared to appear in court on Nov. 25.

PT Iradat Puri (IP) -- one of biggest forest concessionaire covering 195,000 hectars in Central Sulawesi -- filed a lawsuit against the Minister of Forestry and Central Sulawesi Administration in connection with the revocation of its forest concession by the minister on July 2.

The concession was revoked ahead of its expiry and was considered as controversial, Antara reported. (mds)