Salewengkan BBM Subdisi Fisherman, Polda Kepri Tangkap 2 Tersangka Sita 420 Liter Bio Solar

The Riau Islands Regional Police revealed a case of misuse of subsidized fuel for fishermen on Galang Island, Batam City (ANTARA/Jessica)

The Riau Islands Regional Police have uncovered a case of misuse of subsidized fuel oil (BBM) for diesel bio for fishermen on Galang Island, Batam City.

The Director of Special Criminal Investigation (Dirreskrimsus) of the Riau Islands Police, Kombes Pol. Putu Yudha Prawira said that his party arrested two perpetrators of the initials R and NL and confiscated several pieces of evidence, namely two vehicles used to carry subsidized fuel, 420 liters of fuel subsidies of the bio solar type.

In addition, the police also confiscated 20 jerry cans, 25 bundles of fishermen recommendation letters for the purchase/take of bio solar subsidized fuel, one sheet of data on the sale of bio solar subsidized fuel at the Setokok SPBN on Thursday, May 16, 2024, and several other pieces of evidence.

The modus operandi carried out by the suspect was to purchase bio solar subsidized fuel at SPBN Setokok Island, Batam City, by using a letter of recommendation from fishermen to purchase fuel.

"Furthermore, this fuel is sold for the purposes or activities of the project. So when Tipiter personnel get information from the public and fishermen who feel suspicious and object to the bio solar quota they receive. Therefore, we will continue with the investigation," said Putu in Batam, Wednesday, June 12, quoted by Antara.

He explained, from the suspect's statement, they had been carrying out this activity for 1 year, but based on the statements from the witnesses examined, the subsidized fuel injection activity for fishermen had been running for 4 years.

Putu said the fishermen on Galang Island only get two jerry cans each week.

He said that SPBN is obliged to provide subsidized fuel in accordance with the specifications and ship engines listed in the recommendation letter owned by fishermen.

"From the statements of the witnesses we studied, one fisherman got a share of this suspect, only two jerry cans every week. So the rest were misused by the perpetrators and sold to the industry," he said.

Putu said the suspects also manipulated the data contained in the fishermen's recommendation letters, starting from the specifications and ship engines of each fisherman.

"There, the A spec fisherman made the boat and the engine, but when checked by the investigative team it turned out to be inappropriate, it turned out to be a small boat. But in the recommendation letter the specifications and ship engines are large," he said.

He said that the calculation of almost tens of tons per month of bio solar fuel collected by the suspect.

The articles suspected are article 40 number 9 of Law number 11 of 2020 concerning job creation as amended by Article 55 of Law number 22 of 2001 concerning oil and gas.

"Everyone who misuses the transportation and/or trading of fuel oil, gas fuel, will be sentenced to a maximum of 6 years in prison and a maximum fine of Rp. 60 billion," said Putu.