13 warehouse owners detained for hoarding
JAKARTA (JP): At least 13 warehouse owners are in police custody and will be tried for deliberately hoarding staple foods for their own benefit, an officer said yesterday.
The suspects were caught during separate operations staged in Jakarta and several major cities in Central Java, Yogyakarta and Bali, National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said.
"Out of the 13 suspects, seven are from Greater Jakarta," he said.
Four are from Central Java, one from Yogyakarta and one from Bali, the spokesman said without explaining further.
"They will at least be charged with violating 1965 Law No. 11 on warehouse and storage activities."
Da'i said the number of suspects could increase as the investigation into activities at other suspected warehouses has yet to be completed.
He said a preliminary investigation had proven that suspects violated the law by not unloading and distributing items to food suppliers for more than three days.
The suspects were also charged with violating 1955 Emergency Law No. 7 on economic crime which carries a maximum penalty of six years in jail, he said.
"The police investigation has proved that the suspects deliberately stockpiled staple foods, especially rice, to be sold at a much higher price in the near future."
Da'i said it was also possible that the suspects would later be charged under the Antisubversion Law later if found guilty of carrying out an activity which disturbed the country's production, distribution, trade or transportation of products which were essential for the daily life.
The 1963 Antisubversion Law No. 11 carries the death penalty or a life sentence with the possibility of a reduction to 20 years in jail.
Police data shows that at least 2,500 tons of rice, 8,500 tons of sugar and 1,000 tons of soy beans were hoarded by the seven suspects in Jakarta.
Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin announced yesterday that Jakartans should no longer worry about the bomb hoaxes as security authorities had arrested the prank callers.
Refusing to disclose the number of suspects or their identities, Sjafrie said the callers "are linked to the group of people allegedly responsible for last month's bomb explosion in Tanah Tinggi". The suspects are in Jakarta Police custody.
He said they were part of a ploy to disrupt the country's stability, especially in the lead up to the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), which is held every five years.
At least 14 bomb hoaxes have been reported to police since January. Threatening phone calls were made to office buildings and public facilities, including the Lippo Supermal in Karawaci, Tangerang, Bank Harapan's Sentosa's headquarters on Jl. Gajah Mada in West Jakarta and the newsroom of private television station Indosiar on Jl. Bendungan Hilir in Central Jakarta.
Speaking about security precautions being taken for State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie, who is expected to win the vice presidential race next week, Sjafrie said no special measures were being taken.
"Currently, Pak Habibie's security is handled by Jakarta Police Headquarters."
He said the security measures being taken for Habibie were the same as those for other cabinet ministers. (cst/imn)