Balikpapan Police Arrest A Gang Of Haled Bulog Rice Sellers, 1.65 Tons Of Rice Confiscated

The perpetrators who were arrested by the Balikpapan Police for abusing the Bulog SPHP rice, Balikpapan, Wednesday. (ANTARA/Januar)

The Balikpapan Police's Certain Food and Crime Task Force arrested the perpetrators of the misuse of rice for the Food Supply and Price Stabilization program (SPHP) managed by the Logistics Affairs Agency (Bulog) for the East and North Kalimantan regions.

Head of the Balikpapan Police Certain Crime Unit, Iptu Wirawan Trisnadi revealed three perpetrators with the initials MSP (26), RH (33), and MA (27), all residents of South Kalimantan.

They are suspected of buying large amounts of SPHP rice from Balikpapan to be resold in South Kalimantan at a much higher price than the Highest Retail Price (HET) set by the government of IDR 11,500 per kilogram.

According to Wirawan, the arrests took place while the three perpetrators rested in a garden on Jalan Padat Karya, Gunung Steling Area (28/2).

The police also confiscated aold Dieselning truck with police number DA 8337 EI, which found 28 sacks of 50 kilograms of rice and 50 sacks of 5 kilograms of rice, as well as receipts for the purchase of SPHP rice, a total weighing 1.65 tons.

According to Iptu Wirawan, during the two weeks before the arrest, the perpetrators had sold the SPHP rice twice and were preparing for the third time. The three perpetrators have different roles in this operation, including investors, buyer seekers, and those in charge of payment.

In a hearing held by the Balikpapan DPRD with the city government, member of Commission II Slamet Imam Santoso emphasized that this case did not affect the supply of SPHP rice.

However, he highlighted the limitations of the crane used to move rice from ships to trucks, which could affect food security in the regions.

For their actions, the perpetrators were charged with Article 29 Paragraph (1) Jo. Article 107 of the Republic of Indonesia Law number 7 of 2014 concerning Trade and/or Article 53 Jo. Article 133 of the Republic of Indonesia Law number 18 of 2012 concerning Food, which can result in a maximum prison sentence of seven years or a fine of up to Rp. 100 billion.