In the middle of Coronavirus outbreak around the world including Indonesia, there were irresponsible people who use the outbreak to get personal benefits by hoarding mask, hand sanitizers, and groceries and sell those at higher prices than the original ones.
Right after President of Republic Indonesia, Joko Widodo announced there were two people positively infected by Coronavirus, people then flocked to buy masks, hand sanitizers, and groceries. All three items sold out in market in a glance of eyes.
For example, in Kebayoran Lama, a box of 50 pieces of mask (a box) which originally cost for Rp25.000, after Coronavirus outbreak sold for Rp300.000 per box. Most sellers said masks and hand sanitizers are limited.
Seeing this phenomenon, Head of the Public Information Bureau of Police Public Relations Division, Brigadier General (Pol) Argi Yuwono said he would take firm action against those who were hoarding those items.
Irresponsible people who take personal advantages during Coronavirus outbreak can be charged with Article 107 of Law Number 7 of 2014 concerning Trade with maximum five years sentences or maximum 50 billion rupiahs.
Although a lot of sellers raising prices of masks, there are some sellers sell at normal prices including Ramayana Department Store, Kimia Farma, Ace Hardware and Okidoki. In order to give even distributions among wider communities, they limit every purchase to ensure other people can get the same amount of masks.