Dentist probed for hoarding oil

MAGELANG, Central Java: Police here are questioning a dentist on suspicion of hoarding 200 drums and 1,000 boxes of lubricant oil worth more than Rp 200 million (US$20,000).

Antara reported yesterday that the police found the lubricant oil at the home of the dentist identified only as HM in Temanggung on Tuesday after a tipoff from neighbors.

Local police chief Col. Deddy S. Komarudin said that the authorities had confiscated the goods and sealed the dentist's house.

The news comes amid reports that lubricants have "disappeared" from many towns in Java and elsewhere, presumably taken by speculators. The government has threatened to take tough action against hoarders of essential commodities.

Deddy said HM could be charged either for hoarding goods for personal gain or running a business without a permit.

HM allegedly bought each drum containing 209 liters of oil for Rp 600,000, while the lub oil in the boxes was estimated to be worth around Rp 80 million, Deddy said.

During interrogation, HM admitted to the police that he bought the oil from a relative who worked for PT Gunung Mas Semarang, a distributor authorized by state-owned oil company PT Pertamina in Semarang last month.

The suspect claimed that he was not seeking to make a personal profit, but gave the proceeds to charity and that he sold the oil for Rp 15,500 per liter. He bought the oil for Rp 15,000 per liter.

"I make a profit of Rp 500 for each liter, I could have sold it for more if I was wanting to speculate for profit. My intention is good, helping people," he was quoted by Deddy as saying. (aan)