Bareskrim Set 2 Pharmacy Companies Suspecting Accountable For Acute Manufacturing Due To Sirop Drugs

Head of Public Relations Division of the National Police Inspector General Dedi Prasetyo (center). (Rizky A-VOI).

The Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police has named two pharmaceutical companies as suspects behind cases of acute kidney failure in children due to sirop drugs. The two companies are PT Afi Farma and CV Samudera Chemical.

"The two corporate suspects are PT A and CV SC," said Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Inspector General Dedi Prasetyo in his statement, Thursday, November 17.

The two companies were named suspects for producing drugs or distributing pharmaceutical preparations that did not meet standards and/or requirements for safety, efficacy or benefit and quality.

For PT Afi Farma, it is strongly suspected that it did not test the additional material for Propilen Glikol (PG) which turned out to contain Etylene Glikol (EG) and Dietilen Glikeol (DEG) exceeding the threshold.

"PT. A only copy the data provided by the supplier without testing and quality control to ensure that the material can be used for production," he said.

Meanwhile, CV Samudera Chemical became a suspect for supplying raw materials for sirop drugs contaminated with EG and DEG. Evidently, during the investigation process, a total of 42 PG drums were found that were polluted.

"The evidence that was secured were a number of pharmaceutical preparations produced by PT. A, various documents including PO (purcash order) and DO (delivery order) of PT. A, the results of laboratory tests on samples of PT. A and 42 PG drums suspected of containing EG and DEG, found in CV. SC," said Dedi.

With the series of crimes committed, PT Afi Farma is suspected of Article 196 in conjunction with Article 98 paragraph (2) and paragraph (3) in conjunction with Article 201 paragraph (1) and/or paragraph (2) of Law No. 36 of 2009 concerning Health, and Article 62 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 8 paragraph (3) of Law No. 8 of 1999 concerning Consumer Protection with a penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of Rp. 2 billion.

Meanwhile, the CV Samudera Chemical was charged with Article 196 in conjunction with Article 98 paragraph (2) and paragraph (3) and/or Article 60 number 4 of Law Number 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation Amendments to Article 197 in conjunction with Article 106 in conjunction with Article 201 paragraph (1) and/or paragraph (2) of Law Number 36 of 2009 concerning Health and Article 62 in conjunction with Article 8 Paragraph (3) of Law Number 8 of 1999 concerning Consumer Protection in conjunction with Article 55 and/or Article 56 of the Criminal Code with a threat of 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of IDR 2 billion.