West Java Police personnel have arrested the owner of a factory producing oplosan (bootleg liquor) in Cicalengka, Bandung, West Java, which reportedly killed dozens of people in the regency. The suspect was apprehended at a location at the border of Jambi and South Sumatra on Wednesday.

West Java Police general crime investigation department director Sr. Comr. Umar Surya Fana confirmed the arrest. “We only provided back up for the operation because we are not the ones currently handling this case. The arrest took place in a house used as a rest area for workers on an oil palm plantation,” said Umar.

He further said the arrest had occurred at around 5:30 a.m. “The suspect has been taken to Bandung," Umar said.

The whereabouts of the suspect had been unknown since the first week of April. He was suspected to have left his house on Jl. Raya By Pass, No. 40, Cicalengka, Bandung regency, after many consumers who had drunk his oplosan died.

Based on data from Cicalengka General Hospital, 34 out of 247 bootleg liquor victims taken to the hospital died.

West Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Agung Budi Maryoto said the oplosan victims in Bandung regency had expanded to Majalaya and Cileunyi. Six people were reported to have died at Ebah Majalaya Hospital, while AMC Cileunyi Hospital reported four oplosan-related deaths. Meanwhile, seven people died in Bandung city.

“For cases in Bandung city and Bandung regency, all victims apparently died of consuming oplosan produced by the same factory at [the suspect's] house,” said Agung. (ebf)