13 warehouse owners detained for hoarding

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)