[JURIST] Indonesian prosecutors requested a three-year prison term Friday for American Richard Ness [defense website], the regional chief executive of Denver-based Newmont Mining Corporation [corporate website; JURIST news archive], an American gold-mining company with a subsidiary in Indonesia. Ness and Newmont face criminal charges [JURIST report] for allegedly dumping arsenic and mercury into the waters of Indonesia's Buyat Bay, a charge which could carry a 10-year prison sentence. Prosecutors are also seeking a $165,000 fine against the company. Earlier this year, Newmont settled a civil suit [JURIST report] brought by Indonesia for $30 million.

Under Indonesian law, prosecutors can make sentencing requests before a defendant is found guilty. The judge is free to consider or reject the recommendation of the prosecutor. AP has more.