Cooking oil-fuel mixture sold

SEMARANG: Central Java Police arrested five people on Thursday suspected of selling cooking oil mixed with diesel fuel over the past few weeks, leaving consumers in five villages suffering from food poisoning.

Police spokesman Lt. Col. Ramlie said police seized 3,000 liters of the mixture. The five suspects hailed from Banyumas, and their distribution area covered a number of cities in the province.

Ramlie said the arrests were made after a number of villagers complained of headaches and stomachaches after eating food fried in the oil.

Separately, the chairman of Semarang's consumer protection organization, Guritno, said he believed the mixture was sold not only for profit, but also to create unrest and panic in the community. (06/45)