TEMPO.CO, Medan - The North Sumatra Regional Police arrested employees of the North Sumatra Health Agency and a penitentiary for allegedly selling the COVID-19 vaccine illegally.

The Chief of the North Sumatra Police's Public Relations Unit, Sr. Comr. Hadi Wahyudi, confirmed the arrests. He stopped short of detailing the arrests but confirmed the civil servants had been secured in Medan city.

“Yes, there are a number of state apparatuses from the North Sumatra Health Office and a penitentiary that we have secured,” said Hadi on Friday, May 21.

Hadi explained the investigation into the alleged illegal sales of vaccines had been conducted since Wednesday, May 19. Until now, the North Sumatra Police are still looking into the case.

North Sumatra Governor Edy Rahmayadi said he would definitely dismiss employees at the North Sumatra Health Agency involved in the illegal activities.

“I have not received the detailed information yet. But I was informed that two doctors in the North Sumatra Health Agency and a penitentiary had misused vaccines by selling them illegally. There must be sanctions if it is proven, which is dismissal,” said Edy in Medan, Friday, May 21.

He emphasized that the dismissal is in accordance with the applicable regulations. The government, Edy added, provided COVID-19 vaccines for the community for free in a bid to suppress the COVID-19 transmission.

Read: Indonesia Logs 229 Serious Adverse Events after COVID-19 Vaccinations

ANTARA