Locations Selling Hard Liquor Deemed in Need of Regular Raids

Jakarta - A member of the Jakarta Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD), Dwi Rio Sambodo, believes that surprise inspections (sidak) at locations suspected of freely selling hard liquor need to be conducted regularly. “We are pushing for the formation of a special provincial-level task force consisting of the DPRD, provincial government, police, BPOM (Food and Drug Supervisory Agency), and the Ministry of Industry to carry out routine operations,” Rio said in Jakarta on Wednesday. According to him, with the proliferation of hard liquor splashing cases occurring in Jakarta, concrete steps are needed regarding the circulation of hard liquor to prevent misuse by irresponsible individuals. For this reason, he said the task force would be formed to take action and conduct operations at locations suspected of freely selling hard liquor. “We must also carry out routine operations and sidak at locations suspected of freely selling hard liquor, as well as evaluate regulations every three months,” Rio stated. In addition, for perpetrators of hard liquor splashing, he said they must be dealt with firmly, and restorative justice should not be allowed for such crimes. “Perpetrators must also be threatened with heavy punishments in accordance with the Criminal Code and the Anti-Violence Law,” Rio stressed. As is known, two public figures, namely Novel Baswedan and Andrie Yunus, have become victims of hard liquor splashing in Jakarta. Not only those two figures, several students, housewives, and ordinary citizens have also become victims of hard liquor splashing by irresponsible individuals. In West Jakarta, police succeeded in arresting two men who carried out a hard liquor splashing in the Dharma Wanita V Street area, RW 01, Rawa Buaya, Cengkareng. The Head of Criminal Investigation at the West Jakarta Metro Police Station, AKBP Arfan Zulkan Sipayung, said the two perpetrators were arrested on Sunday night (26/4). “Two people have been arrested by the Mobile Brigade of the Provincial Police,” Arfan said via short message in Jakarta on Monday (27/4). The two perpetrators are currently still being questioned regarding their motives for splashing hard liquor on the victim.