Legal Protection for Consumers Against Fraudulent Practices in the Sale of Cooking Oil (Minyakita)

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the legal protection afforded to consumers against fraudulent practices in the sale of Minyakita cooking oil, focusing on how statutory norms and enforcement mechanisms function within Indonesia’s consumer-protection framework. Using a normative juridical method, the research applies both statutory and analytical approaches to examine relevant legal provisions, including Law No. 8 of 1999 on Consumer Protection and the Indonesian Penal Code (KUHP). Data were obtained exclusively from secondary sources such as legislation, academic literature, and official reports, then analyzed qualitatively through descriptive interpretation. The findings reveal that consumer protection in Indonesia is normatively comprehensive but remains inconsistently enforced across regions due to limited institutional capacity and public awareness. The Minyakita case demonstrates that fraudulent repackaging and under-filling practices violated Article 8 paragraphs (1)(a) and (c) of the Consumer Protection Law and constituted deceit under Article 383 of the Penal Code. Business actors engaging in such acts bear civil, administrative, and criminal liability, including restitution, fines, or imprisonment as stipulated in Article 62 of the Law. The Consumer Dispute Settlement Agency (BPSK) provides accessible out-of-court mechanisms, yet enforcement effectiveness depends on the coordination of BPKN, BPSK, and law-enforcement bodies. Overall, the study concludes that Indonesia’s consumer-protection regime requires stronger institutional synergy, public-awareness programs, and consistent sanction enforcement to ensure justice, deterrence, and fair trade practices in essential-commodity markets.