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Police to investigate suspected money laundering in PT IBU, name suspect
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Prime commodity: Bags of rice are stored at a warehouse at Pasar Minggu Market, South Jakarta, on May 16. (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan)
T
he National Police, after having named an executive of rice processing company PT Into Beras Unggul (IBU) a fraud suspect, will expand its investigation into the firm on suspicions it was involved in money laundering practices, a spokesman said on Wednesday.
“We will follow up the investigation to probe into [alleged] money laundering practices,” said National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Martinus Sitompul.
Martinus cited the company's production and packaging practices as well as several alleged consumer rights violations as the basis to expand the investigation.
The police named on Wednesday PT IBU president director Trisnawan Widodo a fraud suspect amid allegations the rice company falsely labeled its products.
Martinus said PT IBU misled consumers by displaying nutritional adequacy rate (AKG) information on rice products, which he said should only be displayed on processed food products, not staple food products.
(Read also: Firm denies any wrongdoing in premium rice scandal)
Furthermore, PT IBU did not comply with the standards set in the Indonesian National Standards (SNI) despite displaying the SNI logo on its products, Martinus added.
Trisnawan allegedly violated article 382 of the Criminal Code (KUHP), articles 100 and 144 of Law No.12/2012 on food and Law No. 8/1999 on consumer protection, Martinus said.
If Trisnawnan is found guilty of all violations, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment or Rp 10 billion (US$ 750,131) in fines, he said. (mrc)
