About My Father And This Site

My father, Richard Ness is currently on trial in Indonesia for a crime that never happened and is currently facing ten years in prison and a US$ 60,000 fine. He is accused of polluting the environment and causing illnesses when independent studies have repeatedly confirmed that there is no environmental damage and most importantly medical analysis have established that there is no incidence of arsenic or mercury poisoning among the local community.

In September of 2004, he and 5 other men where arrested in Indonesia. Although he only spent 13 hours being questioned, the 5 other Newmont employees (1 American, 1 Australian, 3 Indonesians) spent over 30 days in jail, where on there first night their mattresses where set on fire and placed in the cell with them. They where placed next to the cell holding the bomber who blew up the Marriot in Jakarta.

My father and the 5 other Newmont employees then had a travel ban imposed on them, which meant that they could not leave Indonesia. This was seen a minor inconvenience until my niece, my fathers only granddaughter passed away in late January. He was unable to attend the funeral and this was easily the hardest part of this whole ordeal.

In the spring of 2005 the travel ban was lifted but, it was replaced by mandatory weekly reporting in Manado.

Currently court hearings are held on a weekly basis and expected to continue for another six months.