Woman caterer wanted over food poisoning
Woman caterer wanted over food poisoning
JAKARTA (JP): North Jakarta police are still searching for a
female caterer who provided meals believed to have caused an
outbreak of food poisoning among workers of PT Charoen Pokphand
Indonesia on Wednesday.
"We are still looking for the woman," Lt. Col. Latief Rabar, a
spokesman for City Police, announced yesterday.
An employee of PT Charoen Pokphand identified the woman
caterer as Bu (Mrs.) Enny, but he claimed to have no idea about
her whereabouts.
Latief said 95 employees of PT Charoen Pokphand complained of
food poisoning during a family gathering on Wednesday at the
factory's premises on Jl. Ancol Barat, Pademangan district, North
Jakarta.
PT Charoen Pokphand Indonesia, a subsidiary of the Thailand-
based multinational, produces fodder.
The gathering, attended by some 1,000 family members and
workers, was held to celebrate Indonesia's 49th Independence Day.
Latief said the party began with some plays in the morning,
which were followed by a coffee break at 9 a.m.
No one complained of food poisoning at that time, which led
police to believe that the poisoning was not caused by the snack
they had with coffee.
Around 2 p.m. the groupants lunched on nasi rames, or rice
with a mixture of dishes including meat, eggs, and vegetables,
packed in styrofoam boxes.
Several minutes later, a large number of people complained of
stomach ache and then began projectile vomiting, turning what had
been an innocent family gathering into a nightmare event.
Panic set in before several levelheaded participants worked to
transport the sick to the nearby Husada and Atmajaya hospitals.
In all, 95 people, including dozens of children, were
hospitalized.
Police received news of the catastrophe three hours after the
event turned foul.
"Above all, police found that the front lawn, where the party
took place, had already been cleared of the remains of the food
and puke, which could have been used as evidence. It is really
not helpful for our investigation," Lt. Wahyudi, deputy chief of
Pademangan district police, was quoted by Latief as saying.
Police confiscated three styrofoam boxes of the nasi rames, a
bag of bread, and a beverage bottle labeled "untouched" at the
site and sent them to the laboratory at the national police
headquarters for further examination.
Police also questioned several employees of the firm in
connection with the case, including Hendra Bratanata who was said
to be the chairman of the party's organizing committee, his staff
members, Irsan Sukamto and Dasuki as well as two security guards,
identified as Firmanto Sukotjo and Wahyu.
Most of the 95 people hospitalized were allowed to return home
after receiving brief medical treatment.
"Only 17 people remained hospitalized as of yesterday," Latief
said. (jsk)