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Police mull over criminal case against companies in AKI deaths
The National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) is considering criminal charges against two pharmaceutical companies for producing toxic medicines that have caused a spike in acute kidney injury (AKI) cases.
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Police officers visit a drug store to inspect syrup formulas for children, following numerous child deaths from kidney injuries attributed to harmful substances in medicinal syrups, in Banda Aceh, Special Region of Aceh, on Oct. 24.
(AFP/Chaideer Mahyudin)
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he National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) is considering criminal charges against two pharmaceutical companies for producing toxic medicines that have caused a spike in acute kidney injury (AKI) cases, which has left dozens of children dead this year.
“We have been appointed to enforce the law and investigate into this matter,” Bareskrim’s head of special criminal division Brig. Gen. Pipit Rismanto said, at a joint press conference with the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) in Serang, Banten, on Monday.
The police and BPOM are alleging PT Yarindo Farmatama and PT Universal Pharmaceuticals for breaching the law by producing and distributing pharmaceutical products that failed to meet safety and quality standards as detailed by Law No. 36/2009 on Health. The offense carries a maximum sentence of 10 years and Rp 1 billion (US$64,042) in fines.
Following a spike in August, the Health Ministry has so far reported 304 AKI cases -- most of which occurred among infants -- of which 159 resulted in death.
Pipit adds that as they are still currently investigating the case, the list of charges might increase.
“It’s possible that consumer protection laws and trade laws might be eventually relevant [in the case] as well,” said Pipit.
“If it’s a production issue, we’ll hold the company responsible. If it’s a rogue individual or some other unknown party, then we’ll hold them responsible,” said Pipit.
