West Java Police Arrested Hoarder Of 25 Thousand Liters Of Diesel Fuel To Be Sold To Industry

PHOTO VIA BETWEEN

BANDUNG - The Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimsus) of the West Java Police revealed a case of hoarding 25 thousand liters of subsidized Bio Solar fuel oil (BBM) which was allegedly carried out in Tasikmalaya and Indramayu to be sold to industries at non-subsidized prices.

West Java Police Public Relations Head Kombes Ibrahim Tompo said there were seven suspects arrested with the initials TS, DS, KS, ZX, and SN in Tasikmalaya, then SD and WW in Indramayu.

"So the modus operandi is to make purchases using modified tank trucks to a number of existing gas stations, and the tanks are supplied to shelters and sold to industries," said Ibrahim at the West Java Police, Bandung City, as reported by Antara, Wednesday, April 13.

In one day, Ibrahim said a number of suspects could get 1,000 to 2,000 liters of diesel which was then accommodated in a shelter. According to the suspect's confession, Ibrahim said, they had been running the illegal business since four months ago.

He explained that the price of diesel that has been subsidized by the government is IDR 5,150 per liter. Then they allegedly sold it to a number of parties at a price of Rp. 9,000 per liter, so that there was a difference of Rp. 3,850 per liter which became the suspect's profit.

With evidence of confiscated diesel fuel and evidence of sales transactions, they are alleged to have made a profit of IDR 465 million more than the two locations.

Meanwhile, the Director of Special Criminal Investigation at the West Java Police, Kombes Pol. Arief Rahman, said the hoarding and misuse of diesel fuel was an iceberg phenomenon. Because, he said, it is suspected that there are still many similar perpetrators who carry out these criminal acts.

"There are still many syndicates that we have not caught, this is the tip of the iceberg," said Arief.

The case, he said, was revealed to have started with the discovery of two tanker trucks containing 8,000 liters of camouflage similar to legal tanker trucks on April 7, 2022.

"But he comes from a base whose shape is a cubicle, so it is strongly suspected that this is abuse, it turns out to be true," he said.

Then the police continued to search and investigate other places until they were able to secure the seven suspects.

"So the profit has attracted the suspects to carry out this illegal act," he said.

As a result of this action, the suspects were charged with Article 55 of Law Number 22 of 2001 concerning Oil and Gas as amended by Law Number 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation and Article 55 of the Criminal Code. They face a maximum sentence of six years in prison and a fine of IDR 60 billion.

"We will also continue to develop this case, starting from the gas station to the end user (industry) who is suspected of receiving this diesel fuel," said Arief.