Inp.polri.go.id - Mataram.  Chinese businessman Qian Jiacheng and his colleagues have denied allegations of selling illegally imported pearls in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. Qian clarified on Thursday(10/10/2024) that they are only assisting local pearl producers by exporting their products to China.

“There is no import involved. We are helping local pearls reach foreign markets through our company and our guests from China,” he said, as reported by antaranws.com.

He presented documents proving the legal purchase of pearls in July 2024 from local sellers in Mataram, amounting to transactions worth over Rp1.6 billion. His company, PT Star Light Mutiara, is a registered foreign investment business with the necessary legal permits from Indonesia's Ministry of Law and Human Rights.

Qian expressed disappointment over the recent detention of 10 Chinese nationals by Mataram’s Immigration Office. These individuals were visiting to buy local pearls for resale in China. 

Local entrepreneur Rizky Akbar confirmed that the Chinese visitors help promote Lombok's renowned pearls to international markets.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)