Two of judges in Newmont trial replaced for being incompetent
Tuesday, August 2 2005 - 03:08 AM WIB
Mariana Sutadi, the vice chairman of the Supreme Court confirmed Monday the replacement of the two judges Junia Wulur, currently chief of the Manado district court and Halima Pontoh.
Mariana said that the two judges were replaced for being incompetent in dealing with the alleged pollution charge against the U.S.-based gold mine operator’s executives. “We have to be professional and strong commitment in the protection of the environment,” Mariana said.
Mariana said that unlike other judges in the trial of Newmont Minahasa Raya, Junia Wulur and Halima Pontoh had not obtained any workshops or trainings related to environmental issues. “The two were incompetent in dealing with cases related to environmental issues,” Mariana added.
The two judges have been replaced by Cory Sahusilawene and Lenny Wati. The other judges in the trial of the gold mine operator; Ridwan S, Damanik, Marauseja E.N, and Maxi Sigalaki are retained.
Newmont’s six executives have been taken to the Manado court for their alleged involvement in the pollution caused by the company’s undersea waste disposal in the Buyat bay, near its mining area in Minahasa, North Sulawesi.
Newspapers reported last week that the court later had freed four of the six executives from the charges but retained two of them including Richard Bruce Ness, the president director of the company as the main suspects.
The prosecutors accused the company’s undersea mining waste disposal in the Buyat bay had contaminated the sea, causing a serious health problem to the people living near in the bay.
In addition to the criminal charge, the State Minister of Environment has also filed a civil suit in the Jakarta court against the company for a similar offense. (*)