Police Arrest Hoax Spreader Of 'Toxic Rice From China' Video In South Kalimantan

JAKARTA - The South Kalimantan (Kalsel) Regional Police arrested a video uploader entitled "Beware of 1 ton of poisonous rice from China".

The perpetrator of the spread of this hoax with the initials MH (38) was arrested at his home in Angsana District, Tanah Bumbu Regency, South Kalimantan.

"(Arrested) on Thursday (May 16) and immediately detained," said Director of Special Criminal Investigation of the South Kalimantan Police, Police Commissioner M. Gafur Aditya Siregar when releasing the case as well as presenting the suspect MH in Banjarmasin, Monday, May 20, as reported by Antara.

Gafur explained that the hoax case began with a team cyber patrol led by Acting Head of Sub-Directorate V Cyber Crime Adjunct Senior Commissioner Ricky Boy Sialagan on May 6, 2024 and found the perpetrator's upload on his Facebook social media account dated May 2, 2024.

The police then confirmed the perpetrator MH regarding the upload and the person concerned admitted it.

"For the motive, the perpetrator admitted that he wanted to inform the public as he posted and he believed it was true," said Gafur.

For his actions that should be suspected of inciting, inviting or influencing others so as to cause hatred or hostility towards China, the police took law enforcement steps.

Investigators refer to Article 45 A paragraph 2 of Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 1 of 2024 concerning the Second Amendment to Law Number 11 of 2008 concerning Electronic Information and Transactions which reads that every person intentionally or without rights distributes electronic information that is inciting, inviting or influencing others so as to cause hatred towards certain individuals or groups of society based on race, nationality, ethnicity, skin color, religion or physical disabilities is threatened with six years imprisonment and a fine of Rp. 1 billion.

"Investigators also examined experts from Bulog and related parties and it was confirmed that there were no rice imports from China," said Gafur.

On that occasion, Grand Commissioner Adam Erwindi again reminded the public to be smart in using social media and always cross-check information so as not to make mistakes that result in criminal consequences.

"Please contact the social media account of the South Kalimantan Police Cyber Team at the CCIC address. South Kalimantan or the South Kalimantan Police Public Relations Bid for any information on social media you want to confirm," he concluded.