At a soon-to-shut mine on the island of Sulawesi, Newmont, the US gold miner, had for years been dumping heavy metals into an otherwise idyllic bay, environmentalists charged. Thirty people had died of Minamata disease, a form of acute mercury poisoning, they reported. A village was beset by mysterious rashes, lumps and bouts of dizziness. At least one baby was dead. Within weeks a class-action lawsuit had been filed against Newmont...Newmont, which faces a fine of up to US$78,000 if found guilty, insists it did nothing wrong, that its disposal of treated waste, or tailings, into the sea caused no harm, and that both the company and Mr Ness, who faces up to 10 years in jail if convicted, will be exonerated.