JAKARTA, Sept. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- The Indonesian police would question manager of the US subsidiary gold mine company PT NewmontMinahasa Rayais over allegation that it had caused the mercury pollution in the Buyat bay in North Sulawesi province, the police chief said here on Friday.

    "First we will ask the most responsible person in the company, we will question him," Bachtiar told reporters at the police headquarters.

    "Then later, if it is found out that the pollution was resultedfrom the company's policy, the company would be charged. All thosewho took the responsibility in the company would be asked for their accountability," he said.

    Bachtiar said such an act was categorized in corporative crime based on the environmental law.

    The company is facing a 555-million-US-dollar suit lodged by local residents living near the bay, who claimed that 30 people have died in the last eight years of illness related to the bay pollution.

    Some 100 people living near the bay have reportedly contracted the Minamata disease, which is caused by mercury poisoning, allegedly resulted from waste dumped by the US company. Enditem