Chevron vows to defend employees in alleged graft case

By Godang Sitompul

PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia said that it would continue to provide legal support for its employees inflicted in the alleged corruption case at the Jakarta Anti-Corruption Court.

?Chevron will continue to defend its employees which have worked in accordance with the regulations in Indonesia. We?re deeply disappointed with the rulings of the Anti-Corruption Court, which are unfair and not objective in looking at the facts of the bioremediation project presented during the court hearing,? Vice President for Government and Public Affairs of Chevron Indonesia, Yanto Sianipar told Petromindo.com Friday.

Nevertheless, the company would press ahead with its investment plans in Indonesia in accordance with the work and budget program already submitted to the SKK Migas, the upstream oil and gas regulator.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Jakarta Anti-Corruption Court sentenced two senior officials of two companies hired by Chevron to carry out the bioremediation project as guilty of corruption as charged by the Attorney General?s Office. The verdict, with a disappointing opinion from one of the judges, was made despite statements from related authorities that the bioremediation project has been carried out in accordance with the existing regulations in the country.

Three Chevron Pacific officials have been named suspects in the same case, and are currently in trial process at the same court.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak