Police to seize rig employed by Lapindo Brantas

The East Java police will seize a rig operated by oil and gas producer PT Lapindo Brantas to drill exploration well in the Banjar Panji 1 of Brantas PSC in East Java, as the local police try to gather evidence for issuing criminal charges against the company, Kompas reported Wednesday.

Nyoman Sukena, a senior police officer in the East Java police office, said that the rig was owned by PT Tiga Musim Maju Jaya and rented by PT Medici Citra Nusa as the contractor of Lapindo.

According to the police, the rig was moved by Lapindo to Carat village near the Banjar panji 1 well when the incident took place. Nyoman said that the operation of the Chinese-made rig was backed by a license from the director general of oil and gas.

"The seizure of the rig will be carried out after a coordinating meeting, which would be held on Wednesday," Nyoman said. With the seizure of the rig, the police are optimistic that it could provide significant evidences to issue criminal charges against Lapindo. (*)