Court rules detention of Newmont execs illegal

The South Jakarta District Court ruled Thursday that the detention of five executives of U.S. mining giant Newmont Mining Corp. (NEM) was illegal, a verdict the company claimed raised doubts about the validity of the pollution case against the men.

However, prosecutors and police insisted the verdict had no bearing on the pending court case, in which the men are accused over allegations a company gold mine in central Indonesia polluted a bay and sickened nearby villagers.

The court ruled the detention of the men was illegal because police hadn't asked permission from the environmental ministry when they made the arrest.

The men were released in October after a month in detention, but banned from leaving the country. The ruling means the men are now free to travel outside of Indonesia.

Newmont claimed the ruling meant that the investigation was also illegal, and that the case would have to be tossed out of court.

"This is a victory for the rule of law in Indonesia," company lawyer Luhut Pangaribuan was quoted by The Associated Press as saying.

The Attorney General's Office insisted that the ruling only applied to the detention, and the case against the men would go ahead. Suyitono Landung, the chief of national detectives who led the investigation, was also unconcerned.

"The case is unaffected," he said. "The prosecutors have said the case is ready to file with the court."

The judge that ruled on the case wasn't available to explain his ruling.

The men, from Newmont Minahasa Raya, the Indonesian unit of Newmont, are accused of corporate crimes in connection with the pollution. If found guilty, they could face up to 15 years in jail. (*)