Indonesia claims pollution, sues Newmont subsidiary
Published Date: 11-03-2005
Type: Statement
Indonesia claims pollution, sues Newmont subsidiary
March 11, 2005
The Denver Post
Jakarta, Indonesia - Indonesian authorities said Thursday they have sued a subsidiary of Denver-based Newmont Mining Corp., seeking $133.6 million in compensation from the company for allegedly polluting a bay off Sulawesi island.
The lawsuit was filed Wednesday by the Ministry of Environment in the South Jakarta District Court, where the offices of PT Newmont Minahasa Raya are located, said Bambang Widjojanto, a government attorney.
The lawsuit claims the company and its president director, Richard Ness, created pollution that damaged the environment and caused skin diseases in people living around Buyat Bay in northern Sulawesi province.
"It is clear that Newmont Minahasa Raya has dumped its waste and heavy metal into the air and waters around its operation site," Widjojanto said. "The state ministry of environment demands that the company and its director pay compensations of $117.6 million for material losses and $16 million for other damages."
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