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hevron Indonesia (CPI) has expressed regret over the detention of six of the company’s employees by the Attorney General Office (AGO).

It is alleged that the six individuals were involved in corrupt activity in an environmental remediation project in Riau province.

CPI’s vice president for government policy and public affairs, Yanto Sianipar, said in Jakarta on Thursday that the arrest of the six employees, who had conducted their duties in-line with Indonesian law, was worrying not only to Chevron but also to other companies too.

He denied allegations that the company was involved with any corrupt activities during the bioremediation project, which was conducted to remove pollutants for environmental purposes. The process aimed to normalize soil that had been contaminated by waste from oil production activities

Yanto said the bioremediation project did not actually involve any state funds because all the costs were financed by the company.

“The cost for the bioremediation project was not included in the cost recovery program, as it was wholly covered by CPI,” he added.

He said that the project had helped to regreen about 60 hectares of land in Riau province and the design and use of bioremediation technology for the project had been evaluated and approved by the relevant governmental authorities.

Adi Toegarisman, AGO spokesperson said on Thursday that the six employees identified only by their initials ER, W, K, H, RP and BAF, were arrested because AGO had enough evidence to support the allegation that the six suspects had significant roles in the case.

“Five suspects are being detained at Salemba Penitentiary inside the AGO’s office, while one more is currently detained in Pondok Bambu Penitentiary,” Adi said.

Adi said there was another suspect, identified only as AT, who failed to show up for questioning because she had accompanied her husband to the US to enable him to undergo medical treatment.

CPI initiated the bioremediation project in Riau province in 2003. The company initially managed the project on its own, but since 2006 it had appointed contractors to assist. The contractors mainly moved contaminated soil from its original location to the bioremediation facilities.

Chevron said the appointment of contractors had been conducted through transparent and accountable processes.

From 2003 to 2011, CPI spent US$10.5 million on the bioremediation project.