West Sumatra Police Dismantle Practices Of Abusing Subsidized Fuel, Perpetrators Of Gas Station Officers

Illustration of crime locations (ANTARA)

The West Sumatra Regional Police (Polda) revealed the action of misuse of subsidized fuel oil (BBM) on Jalan Lintas Medan Jorong Kampung Baru, Kenagarian Batahan, Ranah Batahan District, West Pasaman Regency.

Head of Public Relations of the West Sumatra Police, Kombes Pol Dwi Sulistyawan, during a press conference in Padang, Monday said officers arrested a man with the initials Z (48) on Wednesday May 3 at gas stations 13,263,508 in West Pasaman Regency.

He explained that the disclosure of this case began with officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimsus) of the West Sumatra Police receiving information from the public regarding the existence of oil refueling activities subsidized by the government in the form of Bio Solar fuel oil at gas stations 13,263,508.

Then the officers monitored and saw that there was a green Isuzu Panther minibus that was filling Bio Solar fuel using a 33 liter capacity jerry can.

Seeing this activity, the officers immediately secured perpetrator Z, who was caught red-handed buying subsidized fuel, not according to existing procedures.

Furthermore, the perpetrators and evidence were brought to the West Sumatra Police Headquarters for further investigation.

"Currently, investigators from Sub-Directorate IV of the West Sumatra Police have detained perpetrator Z from May 4, 2023 to July 2, 2023," he said.

According to him, the perpetrator is suspected of being the article suspected of being the perpetrator Z is Article 55 of Law Number 22 of 2001 concerning Oil and Gas which was added and changed to Article 40 number 9 of Law Number 6 of 2023 concerning Stipulation of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law Number 2 of 2022 concerning Job Creation into Law.

The regulation explains that anyone who misuses transportation and/or trading of fuel oil, gas fuel, and/or liquefied petroleum gas that is subsidized and/or the provision and distribution is given a government assignment shall be punished with a maximum imprisonment of six years and a maximum fine of Rp. 60,000,000,000.

Meanwhile, the evidence that was secured was in the form of a green Isuzu Panther minibus car with the police number BK 1101 VL along with a ignition key. One STNK of the green Isuzu Panther minibus license plate number BK 1101 VL.

Then, 12 jerry cans with a capacity of 33 liters and jerry cans with a capacity of three hundred and thirty-one coma six hundred and ten subsidized diesel fuels.

"We urge the public to buy subsidized fuel in accordance with existing regulations. Do not hoard subsidized fuel because it is a criminal act," he said.