Tribratanews.polri.go.id - Palembang. The Directorate of Criminal Investigation of the South Sumatra Regional Police is trying to develop a dolomite fertilizer, or agricultural lime, without a distribution permit from the trade party in Mariana District, Banyuasin Regency.
In this case, the police arrested the suspect SS and confiscated as many as 659 sacks of fertilizer equivalent to 33 tons and a tronton truck with the police number BK 8872 EM.
Director Deputy of Criminal Investigation of the South Sumatra Regional Police, Police Grand Commissioner Attendant Ferry Harahap accompanied by Head of Sub-Directorate I Trade and Investment Industry (Indagsi), Police Commissioner Hadi Saifuddin, said that the disclosure of this case was based on information received by members of Sub-Directorate I Trade and Investment Industry (Indagsi) from the community, it was suspected that there was a circulation of fertilizer without a distribution permit among farmers, in the village of Mariana Banyuasin. From this information, members went to the crime scene (TKP) to conduct an investigation.
“When the members were at the Crime scene (TKP), the members found that there was a circulation of fertilizer without a distribution permit. The name of the fertilizer is Dolomite for the time being. Therefore, it is suspected that there is no distribution permit. The amount of fertilizer is 659 sacks, each containing 50 kilograms," explained Police Grand Commissioner Attendant Ferry Harahap at the South Sumatra Regional Police Headquarters, Friday (21/10/21).
The use of fertilizers that do not have a distribution permit can be detrimental to farmers. When farmers use this fertilizer, they hope the plants will thrive. However, because the fertilizers are fake, so the expected yields are not as desired.
"This is what we did not expect because, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the police continued to help the community, including farmers, to avoid all forms that could harm them," said the Director Deputy of Criminal Investigation of the South Sumatra Regional Police.
According to the Intermediate Officer of the South Sumatra Regional Police, the delivery of fertilizer from Padang to South Sumatra was not the first time but the second time. But this time, something new has been revealed. Ferry continued, the distribution permit is required to ensure whether the fertilizer is suitable for marketing.
"This Dolomite fertilizer does not have a distribution permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, which is authorized to issue a distribution permit. So, therefore, because there is no distribution permit, it can be said that this fertilizer is fake, so if it is used to fertilize plants, the plants are not fertile," explained Police Grand Commissioner Attendant Ferry Harahap.
The suspect was charged with Article 122 in conjunction with Article 73 of Law No.22 of 2019 concerning sustainable agricultural cultivation systems and Article 62 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 8 paragraph (1) letter an of Law No.8 of 1999 concerning consumer protection with a maximum imprisonment of six years.
