Price Tag Of IDR 16,500 Per Liter, This Cooking Oil Seller Was Arrested For Mixing With Food Coloring Liquid

Central Java Police Chief Inspector General Ahmad Luthfi held a case of adulterated cooking oil/ Photo; Dock. Central Java Police

SEMARANG - Two residents of Kudus, Central Java have become suspects in the case of counterfeiting fake cooking oil mixed with food coloring, or mix. The perpetrators priced the oil at IDR 16,500 per liter.

Central Java Police Chief Inspector General Ahmad Luthfi said that the two suspects detained by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation at the Central Java Police had the initials MNK and AA, respectively. The two of them acted mixing cooking oil in Cendono Village, Dawe Kudus District.

Luthfi explained that the two perpetrators mixed bulk cooking oil with yellow food coloring so that it resembled cooking oil in general.

"He (the suspect) made a profit by mixing real (frying) oil with dye (water). We have detected the perpetrator (we know), he fled to Pacitan and we managed to secure him there. We have coordinated with the police ranks to carry out an investigation. Because this is the initial door, we will develop it further", explained Inspector-General Police Luthfi, based on an official statement received by the editors on Tuesday, February 22.

According to Luthfi, the actions of the two perpetrators had been going on for three months. The mixed cooking oil is sold to home industry players in the Kudus, Pati and Rembang areas. From the proceeds from the sale of oplosan oil, the two perpetrators could make a profit of up to IDR 5.6 million more in one day.

From the results of the arrests, the police managed to confiscate a number of evidences, such as jerry cans containing 17 liters of original cooking oil, 20 jerry cans of adulteration, and 5 jerry cans each containing 25 liters of plain water, IDR 600 thousand in cash, and a bundle of sales notes.

"The alleged article is Law Number 9 of 1999 concerning Consumer Protection, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison or a maximum fine of IDR 2 billion. And Article 378 of the Criminal Code on Fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison", he said.