PSI Ready To Follow Legal Process In Rice Box Poisoning Case In Koja

JAKARTA - The administrator of the Jakarta Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) Norman Lianto said his party was following the legal process in the Rice Box case in Beting Village, Koja, North Jakarta.

"At this time our legal division is at the Koja Police Sector instead, doing the Dossier of Examination (BAP)," said Norman while accompanying the Acting Chairperson of PSI Giring Ganesha to visit residents of Beting Village who were being treated at the Koja Hospital, quoted by Antara, Monday, October 25.

Norman said he did not yet know what content was in the boxed rice that caused a number of residents to experience nausea and vomiting.

"No, we're just waiting for the lab results," said Norman.

Previously, the Koja Police Chief Grand Commissioner Adjutant Abdul Rasyid said his members immediately investigated the boxed rice samples distributed by PSI cadres to a number of residents of Koja, North Jakarta which were suspected of causing poisoning.

Rasyid said the boxed rice sample containing green beans, eggs, and tempeh orek was sent to the National Police Laboratory in the Sentul area, Bogor, West Java as part of the initial investigation.

"So we haven't examined the witnesses. Later, the laboratory results will reveal, for example, whether the rice is poisoned, what kind, what kind of poison. That's when we're not making up any more," said Rasyid to reporters in North Jakarta, Monday.

He said the results of the examination of the boxed rice sample test from the laboratory would be out tonight at the earliest. Therefore, while waiting for the results of the lab test to come out, members of the Koja Sector Police are conducting data collection on the witnesses who will later undergo examination.

In that incident, 35 residents of Beting Village, Koja, North Jakarta experienced nausea and vomiting, allegedly after eating the boxed rice distributed by PSI North Jakarta.

Acting General Chairperson of PSI Giring Ganesha when met at Koja Hospital, Monday night, said 23 people had been treated at Koja Hospital, but 18 people had been allowed to go home, leaving five more who are currently being treated.

"There are still five others who are being treated. We pray that all is well," said Giring.

He added that PSI DKI Jakarta cadres will continue to accompany a number of victims suspected of being poisoned by rice boxes distributed to residents of Beting Village, Koja, North Jakarta.

"We are here to really (show) there is a sense of sympathy and responsibility," said Giring.

PSI will bear the entire cost of treatment until recovery.