82 die after drinking bootleg liquor in Indonesia

By APD writer Maverick

**JAKARTA, April 11 (APD) — **Eighty-two people have died after drinking bootleg liquor they obtained from illegal sellers camouflaged as herbal drink stalls in West Java regencies and several places in around the capital city Jakarta, a senior officer at Indonesian police headquarters said here on Tuesday.

“The latest update from West Java police chapter says that 51 have died in several regencies. Coupled with the similar incidents in Jakarta and surrounding areas that taking 31 lives, it becomes 82,” Indonesia Police Headquarters Spokesperson Setyo Wasisto said.

He added that 82 people were still treated in hospitals of several regencies in West Java province at present since the bootleg liquor incident developed from Friday last week.

They were indicted of suffering from severe alcohol poisoning, he said.

Setyo added that police headquarters has set a team consisted personnel from the headquarters, Food and Drugs Agency (BPOM) and Police’s Forensic Laboratory (Puslabfor) to investigate content of the deadly bootleg liquor.

In a separated occasion, West Java Police Chief Agung Budi Maryoto said that the bootleg liquor incident has affected Bandung regency, Sukabumi regency and Bandung city in the province.

He said that police have arrested sellers of the deadly beverage for locals in those regencies.

“We would take thorough investigations into this incident, including motives related to the distribution of the deadly liquor among the society,” Agung said on Tuesday in Bandung.

The previous bootleg liquor incident in Indonesia’s capital city have killed 31 people in South and East Jakarta and outskirt areas of Bekasi and Depok earlier last week.

Those killed in the incident were also bought the liquor from roadside sellers who camouflaged their stalls as herbal drink stalls.

They sold bootleg liquor contained in plastic for 20,000 rupiah (about 1.4 U.S.Dollar) per 600 milliliter. Most of those bought the liquor were the youths planning to spend their weekends with their colleagues.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)