The Riau Islands Governor Asked The Police To Starf The Subsidized Fuel Distribution Not Enjoying Good Entrepreneurs

Illustration of the scarcity of diesel fuel. (Antara)

KEPRI - Riau Islands (Kepri) Provincial Governor Ansar Ahmad asked the police to closely monitor the distribution of subsidized fuel so that it is right on target for recipients who meet the criteria.

Referring to data released by the Ministry of Finance, said Ansar, only 20 percent of the fuel subsidy value enjoyed by the poor.

Meanwhile, about 80 percent of others are enjoyed by those who are able to pay fuel at non-subsidized costs.

"So you really have to monitor it, don't let subsidized fuel be enjoyed by big entrepreneurs to people who can afford it, even though they can use non-subsidized fuel," said Ansar in Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, September 7.

He also supports law enforcement officers taking firm action against certain individuals or parties who deliberately misuse subsidized fuel, let alone hoarding for profit.

According to him, in the midst of the impact of increasing fuel and the current global crisis conditions, the distribution of subsidized fuel must be directed so that it can be enjoyed by the lower class.

"We don't want the lower class people to be more burdened with the current economic situation," said Ansar.

Separately, Deputy Director of Criminal Investigation at the Riau Islands Police AKBP Nugroho Agus Setiawan emphasized that his party continues to monitor and supervise the distribution of subsidized fuel at all local gas stations.

"The effort was made to prevent the misuse of subsidized fuel while at the same time anticipating the public's turmoil as a result of the increase in fuel prices," he said.

According to him, the day before, Tuesday, September 6, the Riau Islands Police managed to arrest a suspect in the driver with the initials TH alias T related to the abuse of transporting and trading fuel subsidies of the bio solar type.

The modus operandi of the perpetrator is to provide fuel for a bio diesel type subsidy at gas stations in Batam City using a minibus vehicle whose tank has been modified. The purchase is done using a fuel card of Brizzi which has been doubled by 12 pieces and a sticker is pasted as if the vehicle's card.

"Furthermore, fuel is transferred to a container vehicle which will later be resold at a higher price," he said.

In this case, the police also confiscated 3 minibus cars, 9 receipts for purchasing bio diesel fuel, 630 bio diesel filters, 12 Brizzi cards, and IDR 3,050,000 in cash.

The actions of the suspect TH violated Article 40 number 9 of Law Number 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation as amended Article 55 of Law Number 22 of 2001 concerning Oil and Gas of Earth.

"Everyone who abuses the transportation and/or trade in fuel, gas fuel, and/or liquefied petroleum gas subsidized by the government is sentenced to a maximum imprisonment of 6 years and a maximum fine of Rp. 60 billion," said AKBP Nugroho Agus Setiawan.