Fuel hoarder arrested in Tegal

TEGAL, Central Java: Police arrested a businessman for illegally selling fuel in the Central Java town of Tegal and confiscated at least 15 drums of diesel fuel and two drums of kerosene from him on Saturday.

Tegal Police detectives chief Adj. Comr. Budi Samekto said that the businessman, 32-year old Darno, had been detained for questioning.

He said Farno was arrested at his shop on Jl. Hanoman in Tegal for failing to show a business permit to sell fuel.

"If illegal traders with large stocks are allowed to continue their businesses, it will affect the price of fuel on the market," Budi told the press.

He said the confiscated drums contained an average of 200 liters each. "If there was only one drum, we could tolerate this as it could be categorized as retail trading."

Budi pledged to develop the investigation into a prosecution in the hope that other similar crimes would be brought to light.

The move was part of efforts to fight against the illegal hoarding of fuel by businessmen, which has been blamed for recent shortages of kerosene in Central Java.--JP