David McNew/Getty Images News
Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) said Monday it reached a settlement with Indonesian villagers who sued the company in 2001 for alleged human rights abuses by contract soldiers hired to guard the company’s operations.
The two sides said in a Washington, D.C., federal court filing that they had resolved the case; the terms were not disclosed.
The villagers alleged the soldiers committed atrocities including sexual assault, torture and murder at or near Exxon’s natural gas operations in the Arun field.
The settlement came ahead of a widely anticipated trial that was scheduled to begin May 24 to decide whether Exxon (XOM) was negligent in contracting with Indonesian soldiers to guard its operations during a period of violence and unrest.
More on Exxon Mobil:
