JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- Indonesia\'s attorney general said Wednesday he would look into allegations that a U.S. gold-mining company illegally paid $20 million to security forces.
New Orleans-based Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. has denied breaking any laws, saying it has been transparent about providing logistical support to Indonesian troops near its mine in the remote province of West Papua.
But the government has said such payments are illegal.
When asked about a possible graft investigation of Freeport-McMoRan, Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh said: \'\'I have to learn first what\'s happening (in Papua).\'\'
The New York Times reported last month that Freeport paid nearly $20 million to military and police officials in Papua between 1998 and 2004.
Such payments are seen as encouraging corruption among military commanders, and jeopardize government efforts to bring the powerful military brass -- who are still allowed to operate largely independently of the defense ministry\'s supervision -- under civilian control.sumber:
