The trial of Newmont Minahasa Raya's boss to begin soon

The higher persecution office in Manado, South Sulawesi will soon transfer the criminal case against the president director of gold mine operator PT Newmont Minahasa Raya, Richard Ness, to the local court to pave the way for his trial over his involvement in the alleged pollution caused by the mining company in the Buyat bay, Koran Tempo reported on Friday.

The head of the Manado persecution office, Nelson Worotikan, said in Manado on Thursday that the dossier on the charges against Ness would be sent to the local court by the end of this month.

Nelson said that the dossier on the criminal charge against Ness would be the first to be sent to the court. "The second dossier on the criminal charge against other company's executives Jerry Kounjansouw, the company's superintendent for environment, David Sompie, external relations manager, Phil Turner, maintenance affairs manager, Putu Wijayatri, superintendent for production and William Long, site manager was now being processed," he said.

The government has filed both criminal and civil charges against Newmont over alleged pollution. The civil suit will be handled by a Jakarta court in which the government has sought for total compensation of over US$130 million.

Both cases stem from allegations that the company's undersea mineral waste dumping ground in Buyat bay near its mine site in Minahasa, North Sulawesi, has caused serious pollution and sickened the villagers living near the area.

The company has denied the charge and has demanded the government to reopen an investigation in the case. (*)