DHAKA: Sixteen Indonesians have died and nine are fighting for their lives after drinking bootleg alcohol to celebrate New Year’s Eve on the main island of Java.

Indonesia police said on Monday, reports The Straits Times.

Police have arrested a couple who are suspected of producing and distributing the alcohol to roadside stalls in the town of Mojokerto in eastern Java, where the victims bought it.

It is thought the locally produced alcohol, believed to be made from palm tree sap or rice, contained poisonous methanol, said Awi Setiyono, police spokesman for East Java province.

Those that drank the alcohol to celebrate New Year began falling ill in the following days and the first death was recorded on Friday, said Setiyono.

BDST: 1917 HRS, JAN 06, 2014
Edited by Robab Rosan, Current Affairs Editor