Gas Station Operator In Batam Becomes Suspect In Pertalite Selling Case To Jeriken Of Up To IDR 2 Billion

Ditreskrimsus Polda Kepri released the case of misappropriation of Pertalite sales by the operator of the Kabil gas station, Nongsa at the Riau Islands Police Headquarters, Wednesday (7/5/2025). (ANTARA/Laily Rahmawaty)

The Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimsus) of the Riau Islands Police has determined D (32), as the operator of the Kabil gas station as a suspect in the Pertalite type subsidized fuel fraud case.

Kasubdit IV Ditreskrimsus Polda Kepri AKBP Zamrul Aini said the suspect's mode of misappropriating Pertalite, namely storing a consumer's My Pertamina barcode and then using it to improper buyers.

"This practice has been carried out by the perpetrators for five months since December 2024," said Zamrul as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 7.

The middle-ranking police officer explained that the perpetrator had worked for 13 years as an operator at gas stations 14294716 Kabil, Nongsa Batam City.

For five months, he said, the perpetrators had sold 200 thousand liters of Pertalite that was not in accordance with the procedure, with a potential state loss of Rp. 2 billion.

"Based on the calculation that suspects can get Rp. 200 thousand to Rp. 500 thousand for commissions from Pertalite sales that are not in accordance with procedures, if on average one day they get Rp. 350 thousand, then a month they can get Rp. 1 million," he said.

According to Zamrul, the fraud carried out by the suspect was a new mode of disclosure in the Riau Islands area. Where the perpetrator uses an EDC (electronic data capture) machine to store the My Pertamina barcode belonging to the gas station consumer.

As a result of the investigation, a total of 38 barcodes belonging to consumers were stored and used by the perpetrators in the form of screenshots, to serve jerry can buyers who do not have official documents.

"In the EDC machine, 38 barcodes were found, obtained from Pertalite buyers, there were buyers, then they were kept by him," said Zamrul.

Rusmana, the Pertamina Kepri Pertamina BBM Administration, admitted that misappropriation of Pertalite sales using barcodes belonging to other people by gas station operators was the first incident.

His party has imposed sanctions in the form of temporary closure of the gas station operation for more than a week. And in the future it will increase supervision and coordinate with the barcode vendor My Pertamina for protection from abuse.

"Sanctions for gas stations have been issued, in the form of a warning letter and closing production sales. As of today, it is still suspended and has not been opened," said Rusmana.

This case was revealed from a viral video on social media, the Kabil gas station does not serve Pertalite consumers, but instead serves sellers using jerry cans that occurred on Sunday (27/4) at 04.00 WIB.