Modification of Hyundai Atos Tank Can Load 50 Liters of Fuel Modus of Misuse of Pertalite in Temanggung

Police show evidence of misuse of subsidized fuel in Temanggung, Thursday (21/5/2026) ANTARA/Heru Suyitno

Temanggung - The Temanggung Police, Central Java, have uncovered a case of criminal acts of misuse of subsidized Pertalite type fuel oil by arresting a suspect with the initials SS in the Parakan area.

"The suspect SS, who is a resident of Temanggung, was arrested at the crime scene (TKP) in the area along Jalan Parakan KM 2," said Temanggung Police Chief AKBP Zamrul Aini, in Temanggung, Thursday, quoted by Antara.

The police chief did not specify when the suspect SS was arrested.

He said, in carrying out his actions, the suspect SS used a modus operandi by using a four-wheeled vehicle of the Hyundai Atos type in gray color which had been modified. The capacity of the car's tank was changed so that it could hold up to 50 liters of fuel.

He explained that to deceive the officers at the Public Fuel Filling Station (SPBU), the suspect always changed the number plate of the vehicle and used many different barcodes that he stored in his mobile phone.

After successfully buying Pertalite from a gas station, he said, the suspect then transferred the subsidized fuel from the car's tank into a number of jerrycans.

The transfer process was carried out using a suction device in the form of an electric pump and hose. The subsidized fuel that was stored was sold by the suspect in order to make a profit.

He said that from the hands of the suspect, the police confiscated a number of evidence, including one unit of a gray Hyundai Atos car, an electric pump, a hose, a mobile phone that stores QR codes, several vehicle number plates, and 149 liters of Pertalite fuel.

Based on the results of the investigation, this illegal activity has been taking place since December 2025 to April 2026. The total estimated state losses due to the practice of misuse of subsidized fuel in the Parakan area are estimated to reach Rp. 100 million.

For his actions, the suspect was charged with Article 55 of the Law on Oil and Gas (Migas). The suspect is threatened with a maximum sentence of six years in prison, the same as the sanction for the misuse of other types of subsidized fuel.