Dentist probed for hoarding oil

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)