Indonesian police are hot on the heels of a Malaysian man accused of swindling betel nut traders out of an eye-watering 22 billion rupiah (RM6.6 million, US$1.65 million).
The Jakarta Post reports that Harjid Singh has been barred from leaving the country, pending further investigations into the gum-staining nut’s wheeling and dealings.
Twelve police reports have been filed against the Malaysian, who was the president director at the betel nut processing company PT Sari Nurto.
The organization had reportedly promised to buy betel nut from individual traders at prices that were higher than the usual market cost of RM4.80/kg (US$1.90/kg).
One trader in particular, Andi Nawir, spoke to the press, telling them that the failure of payment had incurred losses of over RM96,000 (US$24,000) for him personally. This was tantamount to six months of trading for Nawir. He added that he would usually supply the processors with three orders before bulk payment. This could add up to over 30 tons.
The plant’s warehouse has since been seized by police.
Indonesia is Southeast Asia’s largest economy, and chewing betel nut is a popular pastime. With properties akin to the physiological effects of nicotine, users chew the nut wrapped in leaf, spitting out excessive red saliva, similar to chewing tobacco. (Ed: Also it causes oral cancers and is gross)
