Aqida Swamurti, Jakarta – The State Ministry for the Environment has recorded that verdicts of not guilty are handed down by the courts in around 40 percent of environmental cases.

According to the Head of Investigation at the State Ministry for the Environment, Dasrul Chaniago, judges do not yet consider environment cases to be important. Verdicts in about 60 percent of these cases only amount to conditional sanctions.

"There are only a few six-month to two-year prison sentences," Dasrul told Tempo last weekend. He said he regretted the light punishments in spite of the complete evidence.

State minister for the Environment, Rachmat Witoelar, said that by end of this month, the government will announce the performance appraisal program for companies in managing the environment (Proper) during 2007-2008.

According to Rahmat, five companies have been black listed. "They will be processed judicially," he said.

Rahmat went on to say that prior to the judicial process, they had already been given the opportunity of being trained about taking care of the environment.