The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has promised to protect environmental damage expert Bambang Hero Sahardjo, who faces a police report from a Bangka Belitung activist related to his work in estimating state losses from environmental damage sustained from the tin graft case.

Forestry professor Bambang from the Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) helped prosecutors calculate the estimated state losses from a corruption case pertaining to state-owned tin miner PT Timah, producing the figure of Rp 217 trillion (US$16 billion) in environmental damage from corrupt practices.

Bambang also served as an expert witness in the trial for some defendants in the case that incurred a total Rp 300 trillion in state losses.

But lawyer Andi Kusuma, who is also part of Bangka Belitung local organization Perpat Babel, reported Bambang to the police on Jan. 8, accusing the forestry professor of "incompetence" and of committing perjury for providing inaccurate information about state losses that could harm people implicated in the case.

He also argued that any estimates of state losses should be produced by financial experts, rather than environmental experts like Bambang.

Morning Brief

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning.

Delivered straight to your inbox three times weekly, this curated briefing provides a concise overview of the day's most important issues, covering a wide range of topics from politics to culture and society.

View More Newsletter

By registering, you agree with The Jakarta Post's Privacy Policy

Sign Up

Thank You

for signing up our newsletter!

Please check your email for your newsletter subscription.

View More Newsletter

Responding to the police report, AGO spokesperson Harli Siregar said that his office would assist Bambang in facing the lawsuit.

Popular

Prabowo’s plan to include religious groups in Danantara gets mixed reactions

Bali refuses to take more electricity from power plants in Java

Adhi Karya seeks Rp 2t back pay from govt for Jabodebek LRT