PT. Newmont Minahasa Raya - Legal Procedure in Environmental Cases

The fact that the District Court of Manado freed PT. Newmont Minahasa Raya (NMR) and its President Director, Richard B. Ness was not necessarily a decision that was unexpected. Even so, some sectors of the community were still taken aback by the total rejection of the government case. Environmental groups were swift to state that this was a tragedy for the Indonesian environment and provided a free pass to big business to destroy the environment with impunity. However, the pro-NMR position is quick to highlight the contrary that the government clearly overstepped the mark in bringing the prosecution.