The Smoking Sequel of Sampoerna's Subsidiary

The legal defeat at the Palembang District Court late last year did not deter the environment and forestry ministry to continue filing lawsuits against land-torching companies. This time, the ministry targeted National Sago Prima.

The ministry is accusing the subsidiary of Sampoerna Agro company of setting fire to 3,000 hectares of industrial plantation forest at Tebing Tinggi, Meranti, Riau. The ministry lodged its lawsuit with the South Jakarta District Court in accordance with the domicile of National Sago's head office at Sampoerna Strategic Square on Jalan Sudirman in Central Jakarta. "The lawsuit this time is much more clear. Our evidence is solid. We're optimistic that we'll win," said Jasmin Ragil Utomo, director for environment dispute settlements, last Thursday.