Central Java Police Chief Ensures Puser Bumi Task Force Monitors Subsidized Fuel Distribution

JAKARTA - Revealing the case of misuse of subsidized fuel oil (BBM) in Pati, Central Java Police Chief Inspector General Ahmad Luthfi said his party would continue to coordinate with Pertamina to monitor distribution and sales of fuel in the market.

"Through the Puser Bumi task force, the Central Java Police are collaborating with Pertamina to monitor fuel on the market. The issue of monitoring the distribution and distribution of fuel is one of the important directions of the National Police Chief and this is, of course, a manifestation of the implementation of the President's policy," said Inspector General Ahmad Luthfi in a written statement received, Tuesday, May 24.

Previously, the case of misuse of subsidized diesel fuel in Pati Regency was revealed by the Tipidter Directorate of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Police. The case is considered the largest in 2022 with a total of 12 suspects.

Dwi Puji Arestya as General Manager of Pertamina in Central Java said that his party will also continue to coordinate with the National Police to secure the distribution of fuel in the Central Java region.

"If there is a scarcity in a place, we will definitely report it to the Regional Police. Then we go to the field together to see the cause. For this extraordinary achievement, I express my deepest appreciation," he said.

For their actions in abusing government subsidized diesel fuel, the suspects were charged with Article 55 of Law Number 22 of 2001 concerning Oil and Gas as amended by Article 40 number 9 of Law Number 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation with a maximum penalty of 6 (six) years in prison and a fine of maximum 60 billion rupiah.

Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police, Commissioner General Pol Agus Andrianto said that throughout 2022 the National Police had succeeded in uncovering 230 cases and arresting 335 suspects in cases of misuse of subsidized fuel and LPG.

"The case that was held was revealed on May 18, 2022, and is the largest in 2022. Officers managed to secure a number of perpetrators in several areas of Pati Regency," he explained.

The first crime scene that was discovered was in a warehouse on Pati-Gembong Street, Muktiharjo Village, Margorejo District, Pati Regency, Central Java. Furthermore, from the results of the development, it was revealed that the second crime scene was in a warehouse on Juwana-Pucakwangi Street, Dukuhmulyo Village, Jakenan, Pati Regency, Central Java.

The next officer also secured a group of helicopters (modified fuel carriers) which were arrested at the third crime scene on Juwana Puncakwangi Street, Dukuhmulyo Village, Jakenan District.

Each of the 12 suspects arrested has a specific role, starting from the owner of the capital to the transporter of the subsidized diesel fuel.

The suspects who were arrested each had the initials MK as the owner of the warehouse, EAS as the financier, AS the helicopter driver, MT the car driver, SW the car driver, FDA car driver, FDA car driver, AAP head of the warehouse, MA the driver of a tank truck with a capacity of 24 thousand. liter, TH is the driver of a tank truck with a capacity of 24 thousand liters, JS is the financier, AEP is the driver of the car, and S is the driver of the car.

"The perpetrators' mode is by storing subsidized diesel fuel in warehouses where they are obtained from a number of gas stations. They transport diesel using vehicles that have been modified and then shipped," he said.

From a number of these gas stations, the perpetrators bought subsidized diesel for IDR 5,150 per liter. The diesel is then sold to the warehouse owner for IDR 7,000 per liter.

By the warehouse owners, the subsidized diesel fuel that has been purchased is then transported using tanker trucks with a capacity of 24,000 liters and 16,000 liters and sold to fishing boats for IDR 10,000 to IDR 11,000 per liter.

"We have also secured a tanker named Permata Nusantara at the Tanjung Priok Port which contains 499 thousand liters of diesel, allegedly the result of the misuse of subsidized fuel by the suspects," he said.

These criminal acts have been carried out by the suspects since 2021 until now. It is estimated that the turnover earned from his crimes reached 4 billion rupiah.

"This (action on the misuse of subsidized fuel) is an ongoing effort that we are doing to protect the public from the actions of individuals who abuse subsidized fuel," he concluded.