Police inspected the viral es kue jadul factory in Depok accused of using sponge materials and found no suspicious elements in production. The investigation awaits lab results, while the accusing TNI-Polri members face internal discipline. Seller Sudrajat has been released and compensated.
A viral social media incident highlighted accusations by TNI and Polri members against es kue jadul seller Sudrajat, suspected of using dangerous materials like sponge or styrofoam in his products. The event unfolded in Kampung Rawa Village, Johar Baru District, Central Jakarta, where the officers quickly detained the seller based on initial conclusions.
Investigators from Polres Metro Jakarta Pusat promptly traced the production factory in Depok, West Java. Head of Criminal Investigation Unit, AKBP Roby Heri Saputra, stated that the production process appeared normal. “For now, we don't see anything unusual. The composition provided and the making method described by the factory still look normal or like regular food,” he said on January 29, 2026.
Police confirmed the operation as a home-based business with no indications of styrofoam use. Samples of the es gabus were sent to the Health Department and Polri Forensic Laboratory for substance testing. Initial results showed no dangerous materials like PU Foam. The factory supplies products to several other traders, and no similar complaints from consumers have been reported yet.
Following the inspection, Sudrajat was released to his home in Depok, and police compensated for the seized goods. The involved TNI-Polri members admitted to jumping to conclusions. Coordinating Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra affirmed that the officers would face internal procedures, including discipline or ethics violations, up to legal action if necessary. “Whether through enforcement of discipline or ethics violations, up to the possibility of also taking a legal step against it,” he said.
This case underscores the importance of fact verification before actions, while maintaining public trust in law enforcement.
