Police Arrest Man in Pidie for Mixing Branded Rice, Allegedly Sold to Aceh Besar

PIDIE - The Pidie Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Aceh, has foiled a rice adulteration operation and arrested a man suspected of mixing branded rice with rice purchased from farmers.

The Head of the Pidie Police Criminal Investigation Unit, AKP Dedy Miswar, stated that the suspect, identified as BH (43), is a resident of Lam Baet Village, Kuta Baro District, Aceh Besar Regency.

"BH is suspected of committing fraudulent rice distribution by adulterating certain branded rice with rice purchased from farmers," Dedy said in Pidie, Antara reported, Thursday, August 7.

The case was uncovered following reports from the public who suspected suspicious activity at an inoperative rice mill in Daka Village, Grong-Grong District, Pidie Regency.

The Pidie Police Special Crimes Unit (Tipiter), led by First Inspector Ade Andra, immediately went to the location on Monday, August 4 and found BH in action. The police then secured BH along with several pieces of evidence for further investigation.

The seized evidence included 25 sacks of CU-branded rice (15 kilograms each), two sacks of SU-branded rice (5 kilograms each), two sacks of unbranded rice (50 kilograms each), and dozens of empty sacks bearing the LG and Y brands.

In addition, the police also confiscated a sack sewing machine, several spools of nylon thread, a scale, a blue tarpaulin, and a pickup truck.

Initial investigation revealed that BH obtained 50 sacks of LG-branded rice from a rice mill in Sumboe Buga Village, Peukan Baro District. He then mixed the rice with mobile rice and repackaged it into sacks bearing the CU and SU brands for sale in Aceh Besar.

"This action violates the Consumer Protection Law and endangers the public as consumers," said Dedy.

BH has now been named a suspect and charged under Article 62 in conjunction with Article 8 Paragraph (1) letters a and f of Law Number 8 of 1999 concerning Consumer Protection.

"The Pidie Police will not tolerate unscrupulous businesses that manipulate consumer goods. We urge the public to immediately report any similar practices," said Dedy.