7 Suspects Of Rice Oppos Were Secured By The Banten Police, Buwas: Evidence There Is A Mafia

President Director of Perum Bulog Budi Waseso. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

President Director of Perum Bulog Budi Waseso said the alleged rice mafia was proven by the determination of seven suspects in the alleged mixing and repackaging of Bulog rice by the Banten Regional Police Food Task Force.

For your information, the arrest of the seven suspects was the aftermath of Budi Waseso's report regarding the alleged existence of the rice mafia.

"What I said last week was proven today. If I look into this, it is a mafia activity," he said at a press conference at the Banten Police, West Java, Friday, February 10.

Buwas, Budi Waseso's nickname, said he was sure that the police would investigate the existence of this rice mafia to its roots.

"So this will be taken care of by the police, of course I am sure that the police will take care of it to where it comes from. Where the start of the violation will be investigated will definitely be investigated. For my thinking, this is if it's about food, we can't play games," he said.

Furthermore, Buwas said, the National Police's Food Task Force would not remain silent.

The supervision of Bulog's market operations will continue to be developed throughout Indonesia.

"Because I brought in imported rice, I dropped it at 12 provincial points that needed this rice. If it is not monitored, then this rice will disappear. It is lost in the sense that the word will not affect the problem of lowering prices," he said.

Meanwhile, Banten Police Chief Inspector General Rudy Heriyanto was reluctant to reveal the roles of each of the perpetrators. The reason is, because it is still in the investigation stage so it cannot be notified in detail.

"This is still an investigation process. Technical matters should not be asked, especially when it comes to where it is located. Later the other suspects will know, everyone will run away," said Rudy.

However, Rudy said, the process of collecting evidence until the arrest of the seven suspects was only carried out for two days, namely since 8 February.

Previously, it was reported that the Banten Police managed to secure seven suspects who mixed rice.

All of them are perpetrators who mixed Bulog imported rice used for the stabilization of Supply and Food Prices (SPHP) or market operations.

Meanwhile, the seven suspects are HS (36); TL (39); AN (58); BA (31); FA (42); HA (66) and ID (30). They come from Lebak, Serang, Cilegon, and Pandeglang.

The evidence confiscated was 350 tons of Bulog rice from repackaging. Then, six digital scales, 8,000 former Bulog sacks, and seven sack sewing machines, 10,000 premium rice sacks from the Rojole brand, SP, Dewi Sri.

Then, the evidence in the form of 50 bundles of transaction files is also secured. The file consists of a memorandum of sale, travel documents, and DO.

For his actions, the perpetrator is subject to Article 62 of Law Number 8 of 1999 concerning Consumer Protection and Article 382 of the Criminal Code. The perpetrator is threatened with 5 years imprisonment or a fine of IDR 2 billion.