ational Police have arrested state salt company PT Garam president director Achmad Boediono and named him a suspect of alleged misuse in the importation and distribution of industrial salt totalling about 75,000 tons.
“We arrested the suspect at his residence in Jatibening, Pondok Gede, Bekasi in West Java,” said National Police Detectives for special crime chief Brig. Gen. Agung Setya as quoted by Antara on Saturday night.
According to Agung, Boediono had been assigned by the State-Owned Enterprises Ministry to import salt to meet the country’s needs. The license issued by the Trade Ministry only allows PT Garam to import industrial salt containing more than 97 percent sodium chloride.
“However, [PT Garam] imported 1,000 tons of industrial salt, which was later repackaged into 400-gram bags using brand name, Segi Tiga G, and sold it to consumers,” Agung said, adding that the remaining 74,000 tons of the industrial salt was sold to 45 companies.
Agung said the moves taken by PT Garam violated the license issued on salt importation, which prohibits any trade of industrial salt from PT Garam to other parties.
“In this case, PT Garam have allegedly traded the imported industrial salt, but also repackaged it into consumption salt to sell to consumers,” he said.
Boediono has been charged for allegedly violating Article 62 on the Law on Consumer Protection, Article 3 on the Corruption Crime and Article 3 and Article 5 on the Prevention and Eradication of Money Laundering that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. (dmr)
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