Mataram (ANTARA) \u2013 Two suspects in an alleged misuse of rice\nsubsidised under Bulog\u2019s Food Supply and Price Stabilisation (SPHP)\nprogramme in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) face a maximum prison sentence of\nfive years and a fine of up to Rp5 billion.<\/p>\n
Ade Zamrah, director of special criminal investigation at the NTB\nPolice, said at a press conference in Mataram on Thursday that the\npenalties are set out in Law No.\u00a08 of 1999 on Consumer Protection and\nLaw No.\u00a07 of 2014 on Trade.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor their suspect status, we are applying Article 62(1) in\nconjunction with Article 8(1)(a) and (i) of the Consumer Protection Law,\nwhich carries a maximum prison sentence of five years and a fine of Rp2\nbillion,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The maximum fine of Rp5 billion is stipulated in Article 110 in\nconjunction with Article 36 of the Trade Law, which carries a prison\nsentence of up to five years.<\/p>\n
Given the maximum potential prison sentence, investigators have not\ndetained the two suspects.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have also been co-operative during the investigation; whenever\nwe have needed their statements, they have attended,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ade said the cases remain at the investigation stage and are being\nhandled in accordance with the applicable rules.<\/p>\n
The suspects, identified by the initials HM and Z, allegedly engaged\nin the practices in West Lombok and Central Lombok regencies.<\/p>\n
The first case concerns activity in Babussalam village, Gerung\ndistrict, West Lombok, allegedly carried out by HM, the owner of a rice\nmill.<\/p>\n
HM allegedly bought 400 five-kilogramme packs of Bulog SPHP\nrice\u2014equivalent to two tonnes\u2014from Gerung Market. He paid Rp60,000 per\npack, or Rp12,000 per kilogramme.<\/p>\n
HM then opened the subsidised rice packages and mixed the rice with\nrice from his mill. The mixture was repacked into plain 50-kilogramme\nsacks and sold to traders or rice distributors.<\/p>\n
The repacked rice was sold for Rp650,000 per sack, or Rp13,000 per\nkilogramme. HM allegedly made a profit of Rp1,000 per kilogramme. The\npractice is believed to have begun in early June 2026.<\/p>\n
The second case was uncovered in Ungga village, Praya Barat Daya\ndistrict, Central Lombok, where police apprehended Z.<\/p>\n
Like HM, Z, a rice mill operator, allegedly bought 300\nfive-kilogramme packs of Bulog SPHP rice\u2014equivalent to 1.5 tonnes\u2014from\nan SPHP rice distributor in Ungga. He paid Rp60,000 per pack, or\nRp12,000 per kilogramme.<\/p>\n
Z then opened the subsidised rice packages and repacked the rice in\nplain 25-kilogramme sacks for sale in Bali.<\/p>\n
The repackaged rice was sold for Rp312,500 per sack, or Rp12,500 per\nkilogramme, giving Z a profit of Rp500 per kilogramme.<\/p>\n
Investigators believe Z carried out the activity four times from\nearly August 2026.<\/p>\n
In the West Lombok case, investigators seized 440 five-kilogramme\nsacks of Bulog SPHP rice, 396 opened SPHP packaging sheets, 165 white\nsacks labelled UD Sri Ayu, and 99 50-kilogramme rice sacks labelled UD\nSri Ayu. Police also seized digital scales and a sack-sewing\nmachine.<\/p>\n
In Central Lombok, investigators seized 51 sacks containing SPHP rice\nrepackaged into plain 25-kilogramme sacks, 45 five-kilogramme packs of\nBulog SPHP rice, 200 plain 25-kilogramme sacks and 1,600 used\nfive-kilogramme SPHP rice packaging sheets. Other evidence included\ndigital scales, a sack-sewing machine and scissors.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/two-suspects-in-subsidised-rice-misuse-case-in-ntb-face-up-to-five-years-in-prison-1793271285", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }