Angry That The Police Closed Illegal Oil Wells, These 3 People Provoked Hundreds Of Residents In Muba Bakar Post Timbangan

SUMSEL - The South Sumatra Police have named three suspects in the case of burning the weighing post of a company that owns a production forest concession in Selaro District, Pangkalan Bayat Village, Bayung Lencir District, Musi Banyuasin (Muba) Regency.

The three suspects with the initials J, T, and I are local residents who were determined to set fire to the post on Tuesday, October 19 because they did not accept that the police had closed the community's oil wells in the area.

“These three suspects played a significant role in the arson. Their motive departs from law enforcement closing illegal oil wells in the area," said South Sumatra Police Chief Inspector General Toni Harmanto in Palembang, Antara, Monday, October 25.

According to the Kapolda, his party has repeatedly conducted socialization related to the causes and effects until the oil well drilling activities carried out by the community have to be closed.

However, the actions taken were apparently not liked by the public until the post was burned.

"It has been socialized, but they instead went on a rampage by burning the post, so we will continue to investigate this case again to find out who is the mastermind who provoked the community," he said.

Meanwhile, Director of General Criminal Investigation, Kombes Hisar Siallagan, said the suspects wanted to return to the oil well area which had been closed.

Then they looked at the weighing post which had become a standby place for security officers accompanied by TNI/Polri personnel. This made them angry and did not accept the tightening of guard after the closure of the oil well.

Then the angry suspect contacted several other people until more than 100 people gathered. At around 21.45 WIB, the mob broke into the concession area and set fire to it.

"It is estimated that there are 100 people who were called by the suspect, as evidenced by the WhatsApp recording on their cellphones. Then the task is to wrap the oil, pour the fuel, some to burn it," he said.

At the time of the incident, six BKO personnel and three company security officers were safe and there were no fatalities from the incident.

For the actions of the suspects, they are subject to Article 187 of the Criminal Code concerning perpetrators who intentionally (dolus) cause fires, explosions, thereby causing public danger or the lives of others with a penalty of 12 years in prison.