Dossiers on Ajinomoto case sent to Jakarta
Dossiers on Ajinomoto case sent to Jakarta
SURABAYA (JP): The East Java Police sent on Monday the
dossiers on four PT Ajinomoto officials, accused of violating the
Consumer Protection Law, to National Police Headquarters in
Jakarta.
"The handing over of the dossiers was based on an instruction
from the National Police chief, Gen. Sorojo Bimantoro, that the
Ajinomto case will be handled by the National Police. Therefore,
further action will be in the hands of the National Police. In
principle, we are ready to help by supplying accurate and correct
data," said East Java Police chief of detectives Sr. Comr.
Bambang Hendarso Danuri to reporters in his office.
The dossiers concerned technical director Yosuko Koyama,
factory manager Hary Saksono, quality control manager Hartono and
production manager Haryono, who were released from (East Java)
police detention last Thursday.
Bambang said that the Jakarta Police had sent a team to
question the four officials as witnesses for the company's
president Arakawa, whose dossier has also been sent by the East
Java Police to the National Police.
All the suspects will be charged with violating the Consumer
Protection Law No. 8/1999, particularly Article 8 which
stipulates that a product labeled halal (may be consumed under
Islamic Law), should follow halal processing procedures in its
production.
Violations of the article attract a maximum sentence of five
years in jail or a maximum fine of Rp 2 billion.
The arrest of the taste enhancer company officials was carried
out after the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) declared Ajinomoto
monosodium glutamate (MSG) to be haram (prohibited from being
consumed under Islamic Law) late last year.
According to the MUI, the company had used pig enzymes during
the MSG production process, while Islam forbids pork and pork
byproducts.
President Abdurrahman Wahid, stealing the show, declared early
this year that Ajinomoto MSG was, in fact, halal.
According to Bambang, the handling of the Ajinomoto case by
the National Police had nothing to do with the President's
statements.
He also denied the possibility that the National Police would
close the case following the President's controversial remarks.
"We, the East Java Police, did not use laboratory testing. We
just trust the MUI as the body most authorized to decide if
Ajinomoto is halal or haram," Bambang said.
According to Bambang, the National Police would also send the
porcine (allegedly made from pig enzymes) to its factory in Italy
and its distributor in the U.S. to get a clear explanation about
its production. (nur/sur)