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KUALA BERANG: The frozen meat importer believed to be behind the meat cartel scandal will soon be indicted, says Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Datuk Rosol Wahid.
He said the investigative document on the Johor Baru-based company was nearing completion and would be submitted to the deputy prosecutor for necessary action to be taken.
Rosol said the case was taking a while because the meat samples had to be analyzed by the Chemistry Department.
“When we want to collect (in court), the meat has to be sent to the laboratory to analyze whether it is kangaroo meat, horse meat, pork or any meat,” he said after launching a Food Bank of Malaysia program here yesterday.
The company is believed to have repackaged the meat using a logo of a well-known Malaysian frozen meat producer and affixed non-certified halal logos from the Malaysian Department of Islamic Development (Jakim).
According to information from Malaysia’s Department of Inspection and Quarantine Services (Maqis), the company’s distribution accounts for only 1% of the country’s meat market.
In early December, authorities arrested a cartel that had been importing meat from Brazil, Ukraine, Argentina and China and repackaging it with the halal logo.
The raid on a warehouse in Senai on December 1 saw the seizure of some 1,500 tonnes of frozen meat worth RM30 thousand.
The cartel, which had been operating for many years, allegedly used the warehouse as a place to make fake labels and stamps, which were then pasted onto packages of meat before being sold at the local market.
He managed to keep his operations a secret by disguising himself as a supplier of frozen meat.
In Johor Baru, the chief of the state police, Comm Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, said that more reports on the scandal were expected, particularly by consumer and Islamic affairs groups.
Around 15 reports have been filed so far by various quarters since the scandal was discovered.
“The Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumption presented 13 reports, while the Customs Department presented one.
“Recently, a non-governmental organization presented another report in Kulai,” he said.
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