Another lube oil hoarder arrested

MAGELANG, Central Java: Police here arrested yesterday one more person suspected of hoarding lubricant oil.

Local police chief Lt. Col. Harry Haryanto said the suspect was Tjong Yan, a well-known clove and tobacco businessman.

Harry said Tjong had hoarded 359 drums of lubricant oil, or 159 drums more than the man from Magelang arrested Tuesday.

Tjong was arrested at his residence with the hoard of lubricant oil worth Rp 215 million (US$21,500), Antara reported.

When arrested, the suspect told the police that the goods belonged to his brother in Semarang who was an oil distributor, Harry said.

Yesterday's arrest comes amid reports that lubricant oil is disappearing from the market, allegedly being hoarded by speculators. The authorities have threatened to take tough measures against them.

Meanwhile, Antara reported yesterday that the dentist arrested Tuesday for the same offense turned out to be a civil servant working in a community health center in Temanggung. (aan)