Police arrest six Ajinomoto top officials

Police arrest six Ajinomoto top officials

JAKARTA (JP): Police have arrested six top officials of PT
Ajinomoto Indonesia in Surabaya and Jakarta over the use of pig
enzymes in its monosodium glutamate (MSG) product.

Two of them, general manager Cokorda Bagus Sudarta, and senior
manager Yusi R. Purba were arrested by Jakarta Police in Jakarta
on Saturday, while the other four; technical director Yosuko
Koyama, quality control manager Haryono, production manager
Hartono, and factory manager Hary Saksono were arrested on Friday
night in Mojokerto, East Java.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Saleh Saaf told reporters
in Jakarta on Saturday that the company officials were arrested
for allegedly duping people into believing that the food
seasoning did not contain pork.

"Jakarta Police have also sealed the main office of PT
Ajinomoto Indonesia on Jl. Yos Sudarso in Sunter, North Jakarta,
and seized a total of 15,008 packages (180 tons) of its famous
seasoning," said Saaf.

He added that police had also sealed another of the company's
offices in Bekasi, east of Jakarta.

In Surabaya, East Java Police detective chief of special
crimes unit Adj. High Comr. Ronie F. Sompie told The Jakarta Post
at his office on Saturday that the four suspects said that they
had not been aware that pig enzymes of the Porcine brand -- made
in Italy -- had been used to develop bactosoyton catalyst in the
MSG production process.

"They said pig enzymes had been used following the instruction
from its head office in Jakarta," Ronie said.

"We will always develop the case and question more company
officials and anybody believed to know about the MSG production
process. It is very possible that we will arrest more people and
the company president Arakawa may also be questioned."

Arakawa, who lives in Mojokerto has yet to be summoned by the
police.

From the preliminary questioning, the officers concluded that
bactosoyton catalyst had been used to replace bactopectone, which
was developed from herbal substances, from October to November of
last year, said Ronie. "The four said they did not know that
Porcine contains pork substance."

Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world, and Islam
prohibits its followers from consuming pork or pork byproducts.
Therefore Indonesian Ulemas Council's (MUI) revelation of the use
of pig enzymes in the well-known Ajinomoto taste enhancer came as
a blow to most people.

Quoting the four suspects, Ronie said that the use of Porcine
was more economical. "But they said that at a meeting with MUI
and the Ministry of Health in Jakarta on Nov. 23, Ajinomoto
management promised to replace Porcine with a new substance
called mameno."

Law No. 8

Both Saaf and Ronie said that the six suspects were charged
with violating Law No. 8/1999 on consumer protection. Under the
law, they will face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and
a Rp 2 billion fine.

A Jakarta-based lawyers' organization called the Independent
Committee for Justice Watch said on Saturday that almost 80
people had officially asked for the Committee to represent them
in filing a law suit against Ajinomoto over its haram (prohibited
by Islamic teaching) product.

The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) had earlier
encouraged the public to file a class action lawsuit against
Ajinomoto for deceiving consumers.

According to Saaf, National Police Chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro
had instructed all police chiefs to work with the food control
agency (POM) of the Ministry of Health in recalling all
monosodium glutamate (MSG) products from any traders in the
country.

"The National Police are scheduled to test samples of the
Ajinomoto products. On Monday, police will question a member of
the National Ulemas Council (MUI) as a witness," he said.

In a related development, an Ajinomoto factory in Mojokerto,
some 55 kilometers west of Surabaya, was sealed off by East Java
Police. The police line preventing anybody from entering the
factory compound apparently surprised the 1,400 workers, who, as
usual, arrived for work at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday.

"I had not previously thought that the police would seal the
factory and prohibit us from working. I knew from the media that
something had happened to the factory, said Winarni, a female
employee at the packaging department. She said that she will
resume work on Monday.

Mojokerto Police Precinct chief Adj. High Comr. Ridho Waseso
said to the Post at the factory gate that at least 100 personnel
were deployed to safeguard the factory. "We don't want any
illegal action to take place against the factory."

Meanwhile the recalling of Ajinomoto products in traditional
markets in Wonokromo, Keputran, Pucang Anom, Pabean and other
supermarkets have been conducted. (ylt/nur/sur)