TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Central Jakarta Police said they would involve the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) in their ongoing investigation into the case of allegedly fake zamzam water (sacred well water from Mecca).

“The BPOM will be involved as an expert witness in this case,” Central Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Hendro Pandowo told Tempo on Sunday, April 5, 2015.

Hendro said the BPOM would also be called for assistance in the lab testing of purportedly fake zamzam, olive oil and local honey products. “The contents of these fake products should be clear, whether the zamzam water only contains mineral water or there are other substances,” he said, adding that the test results would be included in the case files.

Earlier, Central Jakarta Police investigators raided two factories producing counterfeit zamzam water in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta; and Srengseng, West Jakarta. Hendro said the raids were a follow-up on public reports on the sales of allegedly bogus zamzam water at Rizki Store in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.

In the operations, the police seized at least 30 boxes of zamzam water ready for circulation and apprehended multiple suspects: MA and NS in Kramatjati; and S, AW and W in Srengseng.

Hendro said the suspects were charged with Law on Health, Law on Consumer Protection, and Law on Food with a maximum penalty of five years behind bars.

AFRILIA SURYANIS