Lapindo manager named suspect in mudflow disaster

Police have named Imam Agustino, the general manager of Lapindo Brantas Inc., as a suspect in connection with the massive outpouring of toxic hot mud in Porong, Sidoarjo.

On May 29, foul-smelling hot mud began flowing from the company?s gas drilling site. It has continued to inundate surrounding communities for weeks, with schools, factories and the Surabaya-Gempol turnpike forced to close.

The company?s management has been accused of failing to install a protective casing at the required depth during the drilling process.The Jakarta Post reported on Tuesday.

Other suspects named Monday were representatives of firms subcontracted by Lapindo, namely the vice president of Drilling Share Service PT Energi Mega Persada, Nur Rochmat Sawulo and the president director of PT Medici Citra Nusa,Yenny Nawawi.

Police had earlier named six other suspects from Lapindo and PT Medici.

?After investigating 60 witnesses, we named the three top representatives of the management as suspects for negligence in their duties,? said East Java Police detective unit chief Snr. Comr. Amhar Azeth.

The suspects could face up to 15 years in jail for endangering the public. They also face charges of violating the environment law by poisoning the water, for which they could serve up to 18 years in jail.

?We have not detained any of the suspects because they have been cooperative,?Amhar said.

Lapindo?s lawyer, Abi Tisnadisastra, maintained that his client was innocent. ?We have evidence that Lapindo stuck to proper procedures, and Imam would not be that reckless in issuing orders,? he said.

Lapindo Brantas Inc. is partly owned by the family of Coordinating Minister for the People?s Welfare Aburizal Bakrie.(*)