REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Indonesian Police's Criminal Investigation Agency has detained President Director of PT Crown Pratama Benyamin Budiman, 50, as a suspect in the illegal distribution of refined sugar.

"The suspect was detained after intensive questioning by the police investigators," Indonesian Police's Director for Special Economy Crimes Brig. Gen Agung Setya stated here, Friday.

The suspect was detained on grounds that he might flee, destroy evidence, and repeat the crime, Setya noted.

"The police's investigators believe that BB (Benyamin Budiman), as the president director of PT CP (Crown Pratama), must bear legal responsibility for the illegal distribution of refined sugar that was packed in sachets and distributed for consumption to hotels and cafes in Jakarta as well as in other places," he explained.

The police have identified at least 56 hotels and cafes in some big cities, including Jakarta.

On Oct 13, the police had searched the company's warehouse in West Jakarta and found 200 sacks of refined sugar, each containing 50 kilograms of the commodity, and 82,500 sachets of refined sugar and paper rolls with hotel and cafe names on the packages.

Under Trade Minister's Regulation No. 117 of 2015, refined sugar can only be distributed to the industry. Ministerial Decree No. 527 of 2004 has stipulated that refined sugar cannot be sold for public consumption.

The suspect was charged with Law No. 18 of 2012 on food and Law No. 8 of 1999 on consumer protection, with a five-year jail term.

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