East Java Police Arrest Perpetrators Of Premium Rice Oplos In Sidoarjo

BETWEEN PHOTOS/Umarul Faruq

SIDOARJO - The East Java Regional Police together with the Sidoarjo City Police have arrested a perpetrator with the initials MLH who is suspected of carrying out the practice of mixing premium rice with medium rice.

East Java Police Chief Inspector General Nanang Avianto said the perpetrator's modus operandi was to mix one kilogram of premium rice with 10 kilograms of medium quality rice.

"The perpetrator then sold it with a premium label and price at the highest retail price (HET) of Rp. 14,900 per kilogram in the area around Sidoarjo and Pasuruan," said Nanang as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, August 4.

The Regional Police Chief stated that the practice of mixing rice had been carried out by MLH for more than two years, although in reality the police considered that MLH did not have competence in producing premium rice.

In addition, the perpetrators also use the Indonesian National Standard Certificate (SNI) label and the halal logo that the company does not have.

In one day, MLH's rice factory under the auspices of its company, CV Sumber Pangan Group, with the SPG rice brand, can produce 12 to 14 tons of mixed rice.

According to the Kapolda, from the arrest on July 29, 2025, the police confiscated 12.5 tons of rice wrapped in 25 kilograms and five kilograms of packaging.

In addition, raw materials for broken skin rice were also confiscated, raw materials for fragrant pandan rice, as well as production equipment such as scales, and factory operational vehicles.

Against the perpetrators, the police charged with a number of articles, including the Consumer Protection Act Article 8 of 1999, Article 62 in conjunction with Article 8 paragraph (1a) with a maximum imprisonment of five years and a maximum fine of IDR 2 billion.

As well as Article 144 in conjunction with Article 100 paragraph 2 of Law Number 18 of 2012 with a maximum imprisonment of three years and a maximum fine of IDR 6 billion.

In addition, Nanang explained that the perpetrators can also be charged with Law Number 20 of 2014 concerning Standardization and Assessment of Adjustments, Article 68 in conjunction with Article 26 paragraph 1 with a maximum penalty of eight years and a maximum fine of IDR 7.5 billion.

"We urge the public to be more careful in choosing rice. As well as for food business actors not to practice quality manipulation, and ensure that all production processes meet national standards and applicable legal provisions," he said.