A viral video showed police and TNI officers interrogating an elderly ice cake vendor, accusing him of using sponge material, sparking public outrage. Laboratory tests confirmed the products are safe for consumption, leading the officers to apologize for their hasty actions.
On January 24, 2026, the Central Jakarta Metro Police received a report via the 110 call center about suspected ice cakes sold in the Kemayoran area containing Polyurethane Foam. Central Jakarta Metro Police Criminal Investigation Chief AKBP Roby Heri Saputra stated that his team immediately inspected the site and secured the goods for testing. In the viral social media video, a police officer said, “Assalamualaikum, I'm with the babinsa here, we've got this ice cake vendor. Now, be careful, elders, because this is fake, not cake or pudding anymore, but sponge material.” They burned the ice cake to test it, which melted like sponge, and a TNI member squeezed it and forced the vendor, Mr. Sudrajat, to eat it, saying, “Eat it, eat it all, swallow it. If you die, it's on you, not the poor kids, swallow!”
The elderly vendor remained silent throughout the interrogation. Examination by the Food Security Team of the Metro Jaya Police Health Unit on samples of ice cakes, styrofoam ice, agar-agar, and chocolate sprinkles confirmed all were safe and fit for consumption.
On January 26, 2026, Aiptu Ikhwan Mulyadi from the Kampung Rawa Village Community Policing Officer and the Utan Panjang Village TNI Non-Commissioned Officer issued a clarification at the Kemayoran Police Station Hall. “We, the community policing officer and TNI NCO on duty who made the video about the ice cake seller suspected of using sponge in Kemayoran, extend our deepest apologies to the entire community for the disturbance caused by the video that circulated widely on social media,” he said. They explained the action was a quick response to a community report to ensure safety, though they admitted the mistake of concluding too hastily without scientific verification. A special apology was extended to Mr. Sudrajat for the impact on his business, and to the public for any anxiety caused.
