Semarang. The Semarang City Police have identified and apprehended five suspects in connection with the illegal transportation of hundreds of dogs intended for consumption. 

The police intercepted a truck transporting 226 dogs bound for Solo, Central Java on Saturday. They were found tied up with their mouths and legs bound and suspended using sacks. 

The consumption and trade of dog meat are not prohibited in Indonesia, but animal cruelty can be subject to criminal charges.

"In this case of animal cruelty, we have identified five suspects, with DH being the main suspect and four others assisting. DH, a resident of Gemolong Sragen, has been a repeat offender involved in multiple instances of illegal dog transportation," Semarang Police Chief, Commissioner Irwan Anwar, said in a press conference on Monday.

Irwan said that DH carried out two deliveries of hundreds of dogs to Central Java in December. A video capturing the truck transporting the dogs gained widespread attention and became viral.

According to the police, the dogs were sourced from Subang in West Java. The authorities are currently conducting further inquiries to trace the origins.

"While preliminary confirmation has been made, the papers are not officially registered, suggesting a possibility of forgery. To ensure accuracy, our investigators will visit Subang to ascertain the source of these dogs and the procedures involved," he said.

Meanwhile, the rescued dogs have been placed in a temporary shelter in Semarang, with 12 confirmed fatalities undergoing autopsies at Airlangga University (Unair). 

Irwan said the suspects will be charged under the law related to livestock and animal health, carrying a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison.

"Article 89 prohibits the illegal transportation or transfer of animals from one area to another," he said.

Christian Joshua Pale, the Chairman of Animal Hope Shelter Indonesia, expressed concerns about the suspects having road permits for 226 dogs. 

"I am surprised that a travel permit was issued for 226 dogs. There is no evidence of the dogs being healthy; hence, the authenticity of the road permit needs to be questioned," he told Beritasatu.com, a sister publication of the Jakarta Globe.