Fake Licence Plate Scheme: Banten Police Uncover Subsidised Fuel Diversion

Serang (ANTARA) - The Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimsus) of Banten Provincial Police has uncovered a practice of diverting subsidised fuel oil (BBM) types Pertalite and Bio Solar using fake vehicle number plates and illegal barcodes.

Banten Police Chief, Inspector General of Police Hengki, in Serang on Tuesday, revealed that in the April 2024 period, they had uncovered a criminal case of subsidised fuel misuse, designating five individuals as suspects: NN alias AK (45), ED (61), AT (50), NM (21), and RD (41).

“The perpetrators used a fairly sophisticated modus operandi by falsifying vehicle number plates to match the barcodes they possessed. This was done to deceive fuel station attendants during repeated fuel fillings,” said Hengki.

The Police Chief explained that the suspects modified box trucks by installing storage tanks inside with a carrying capacity of 2,000 to 5,000 litres.

“This subsidised fuel was then collected and resold at non-subsidised prices for personal gain,” he stated.

“The amount of 3,791 litres of misused fuel is quite significant. If distributed to eligible members of the public, it would be far more beneficial,” said Agung.

Based on field findings, this illegal practice is estimated to cause state losses of Rp25 million per day.

Agung emphasised that Pertamina Patra Niaga fully supports the police’s actions and will impose strict sanctions up to termination of employment if evidence of involvement by fuel station personnel in activities harming public rights is found.

For their actions, the suspects are charged under Article 55 of Law No. 22 of 2001 on Oil and Natural Gas. This legal basis has been amended by Article 40 paragraph 9 of Law No. 6 of 2023 on the Enactment of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law No. 2 of 2022 on Job Creation into Law, as well as jo Law No. 1 of 2024 on Criminal Adjustment.