Chevron voices concern over court verdict against senior employee
Thursday, October 17 2013 - 02:59 PM WIB
Bachtiar was found guilty of corruption and was thus sentenced to two years and fined Rp 200 million by the panel of judges, according to Setia Untung Arimuladi, chief spokesman of the Attorney General?s Office (AGO).
The sentence was lighter than the demands of the AGO which sought a 6 year imprisonment and Rp 500 million in fine. The AGO thus appealed the sentence to the higher court, according to Setia.
Bacthiar, General Manager of Sumatra Light South Operation, along with a number of CPI employees and contractors, were accused of being implicated in corruption related to the bioremediation project of CPI in Riau.
CPI ?s President Director A. Hamid Batubara and Chevron Indonesia Managing Director Chuck Taylor voiced concerns over the verdict in a joint statement.
?We respect the institutions of Indonesia and have made every effort to follow the legal process. While we welcome the decision to find Bachtiar innocent of a criminal act, we are extremely disappointed that in a split decision by the court he was found guilty of the lesser charge of an ?abuse of authority? and remains in detention. We believe that the overwhelming factual evidence, government testimony and independent expert opinion presented during the trial demonstrated that Bachtiar is clearly innocent of all charges and the project was operated in full compliance with the law. Our thoughts are with Bachtiar and his family during this difficult time. We will continue to fully support him through the legal process to establish his innocence.?
?It is important to note that at a pre-trial hearing on November 27, 2012 , the South Jakarta District Court had previously ordered the immediate release and dismissal of all charges against Bachtiar, citing a clear lack of evidence of any criminal activity. By Indonesian law that case cannot be re-opened without a specific Supreme Court ruling nullifying the court?s decision. We view the trial and Bachtiar?s ongoing detention since May 17 to be in direct contravention with state law.?
?We believe Bachtiar is innocent of the charges against him. The court?s verdict seems to disregard the weight of factual evidence, certified test results, procedural documentation, Ministerial Decrees and various testimonies from authorized government officials and well-respected third-party experts.?
?In convicting Bachtiar, the court appears to have relied almost exclusively on the testimony of one ?expert? witness who has a conflict of interest in this matter, and whose testimony has been discredited by the dissenting judge in the verdict.?
?Government officials from the relevant regulatory agencies testified under oath that the PT CPI-operated bioremediation program was legally permitted and operated in full compliance of the prevailing government rules and regulations. The court has heard testimony from officials at SKK Migas, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources affirming the legal operation and government oversight of the program.?
? CPI will continue to support its employees and will seek to ensure the legal rights that are afforded to the company and employees within the PSC - a binding legal agreement with the government of Indonesia ? are honored and protected,? Hamid and Taylor said.
Editing by Johannes Simbolon