In Two Months Police Reveal 230 Cases Of Abuse Of Subsidized Fuel

Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police, Komjen Agus Andrianto (Photo: Antara)

PATI - The Indonesian National Police during January to May 2022 revealed 230 cases of misuse of subsidized fuel oil with 335 suspects arrested.

"Specifically for the last 2 months, due to queues and an increase in the number of Pertalite, diesel and LPG fuel subsidies, 182 cases were recorded, while 235 people were suspects," said Kabareskrim Komjen Agus Andrianto at a press conference on the disclosure of cases of misuse of diesel in Pati Regency, Central Java, reported by Antara, Tuesday, May 24.

He revealed that the cases in the last two months did not include the three cases that had just been revealed.

Previously, the National Police Chief had ordered all ranks after the last two months there were incidents of queuing to purchase diesel and Pertalite and the scarcity of subsidized diesel in several areas.

"Until finally it was revealed cases of misuse of subsidized fuel and LPG in a number of areas, including in Pati Regency, with evidence of about 25 tons of subsidized diesel fuel," he said.

This, he said, shows the seriousness of the police in suppressing cases of misuse of subsidized fuel. Moreover, currently there is a global energy crisis following Russia's war with Ukraine, resulting in an increase in world energy commodity prices.

"The police and Pertamina, who are tasked with the state to prepare fuel oil, will of course make efforts to prevent the misuse of subsidized fuel, whether Pertalite, diesel, or LPG, the amount of which will always increase," he said.

The existence of such action can provide a deterrent effect and deviations can also be suppressed, while the fuel subsidy from the government can be right on target and the subsidy figure does not continue to rise.

Taking action not only on the misuse of diesel fuel and Pertalite, the perpetrators of the misuse of subsidized LPG will also be prosecuted because the subsidy continues to increase every year.

The number of cases of misuse of subsidized fuel, he said, could not be separated from the price disparity between subsidized and non-subsidized fuel and LPG commodities.

"This price disparity is thought to have stimulated perpetrators to take advantage of opportunities to do business that violates the provisions so that it can cause harm to people who actually have the right to get Pertalite, diesel, or subsidized LPG," he said.