Go to jail or pay Rp 50,000

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Seven butchers have been asked to pay fines of Rp 50,000 each, or serve six months imprisonment, for selling uncertified meat to the public.

The fines were imposed by a magistrate at the end of an operation by the city administration to clamp down on the sales of pork, beef and mutton from unlicensed slaughterhouses.

The authorities confiscated 150 kilograms of pork, 195 kg of beef and 100 kg of mutton from the seven as evidence. The meats were later destroyed, Antara reported.

The operation was conducted after it was discovered that some of the meat sold in Medan's markets came from unlicensed slaughterhouses, putting the consumer's health at risk. (emb)