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Pharma boss arrested for selling 'deadly' counterfeit drugs
The National Police have arrested the director of pharmaceutical company PT Jasa Karunia Investindo (JKI) over the alleged distribution of potentially lethal counterfeit drugs.
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The National Police have arrested the director of pharmaceutical company PT Jasa Karunia Investindo (JKI) over the alleged distribution of potentially lethal counterfeit drugs.
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T
he National Police have arrested the director of pharmaceutical company PT Jasa Karunia Investindo (JKI) over the alleged distribution of potentially lethal counterfeit drugs.
The suspect, identified only as AFAP, 52, was arrested by the police in Semarang, Central Java, on July 8.
The National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) crime division director, Brig. Gen. Mohammad Fadil Imran, said that AFAP conducted his crime by repackaging generic drugs and selling them as if they were patented drugs.
The suspect allegedly reproduced the drugs by using generic drugs, fake drugs and expired drugs, Fadil said, adding that AFAP also stamped fake expiration dates on packages during the repackaging process.
“[The counterfeit drugs] are not only harmful for public health, but they can be deadly when consumed,” Fadil said as quoted by kompas.com on Monday.
AFAP reportedly obtained ingredients through his own company and pharmacy stores in Semarang and Pancoran, South Jakarta.
Generic drugs contain the same active ingredients as patented drugs and are generally sold at lower prices.
According to the police, the suspect was able to sell what were originally government-subsidized drugs for patients covered by the national health insurance (JKN) and Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) as nonsubsidized drugs at much higher prices.
AFAP had allegedly been involved in the distribution of illegal drugs for three years and at least 197 pharmacies across Jakarta and Semarang routinely bought medicines from PT JKI, Fadil added.
The suspect faces charges under Article 196 in conjunction with Article 98 and/or Article 197 of the 2009 Health Law, which carries a maximum 15 years' imprisonment, as well as Article 62 in conjunction with Article 8 of the 1999 Consumer Protection Law, which carries a maximum 5 years' imprisonment. (dpk/afr)
