OTHER than a criminal offense, the Buyat case also involved a civil offense. As in the civil offense, PT Newmont Minahasa Raya has apparently also won its case as far as the criminal offense is concerned. The civil dispute ended in March 2005 when the company and the government agreed on an amicable settlement. On February 16, 2006 a goodwill agreement was signed.

Originally the Environment Department sued Newmont to court for dumping tailings i