Illegal Solar Truck Hits Cars and Residents' Fences While Being Chased by Police in Situbondo

SITUBONDO - The Situbondo Police have thwarted the illegal transportation and trade of around one ton of subsidized fuel oil (BBM) in the Situbondo Regency area, East Java.

Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Situbondo Police, AKP Agung Hartawan, said the disclosure of the case of misuse of subsidized fuel began with a report from the community.

"On Thursday (5/3) at around 04.00 WIB, the Resmob Team received information about illegal solar transportation activities in the Besuki District area. The officers then carried out a search and chased a yellow truck carrying the solar fuel," said Agung in Situbondo, Antara, Sunday, March 8.

Agung explained that the arrest of the two perpetrators of transporting solar was marked by a chase. The truck carrying illegal solar even deliberately hit vehicles that passed by as well as the officer's car before finally stopping after hitting the fence of a resident's house.

According to him, members of the Banyuglugur Police who received information also carried out obstruction. Residents who were angry at seeing the perpetrator's actions also surrounded and mobbed them before they were finally secured by the police.

"We have secured two suspects with the initials SA (45) from Besuki District as the driver of the truck and K (55) as a kenek. The investigation was then developed to the perpetrator EE (50) who played a role as a seller of solar," he said.

From the results of the search, the police found evidence in the form of a box-shaped water tank or tank containing about 1,000 liters of solar in the truck.

In addition, officers also seized two empty cans, 76 empty jugs, jugs and gallons that still contained leftover solar, as well as a number of supporting tools such as funnels, hoses, oil pumps, and buckets.

Agung added that the three suspects have now been detained for further investigation.

"For their actions, the suspects were charged with layered articles, namely Law Number 22 of 2001 concerning Oil and Gas as amended in the Employment Creation Law regarding the misuse of subsidized fuel. In addition, the truck crew was also charged with articles in the Criminal Code for committing violence and resisting officers who were carrying out their duties," said Agung.