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)