Gas station owners, employees arrested for meter tampering

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Five owners and employees of four gas stations in Jakarta have been arrested for tampering with meters, a city police officer says.

Chief of Jakarta police's special crime unit Sr. Comr. Syahrul Mamma said on Thursday that gas stations on Jl. Kampung Bandan in North Jakarta, on Jl. Bekasi Timur Raya in East Jakarta, on Jl. Mataram I, Kebayoran Baru in South Jakarta and on Jl. Suryo, Blok S in South Jakarta had been caught defrauding gasoline consumers.

"They intentionally took two to 2.3 liters from every 20 liters a customer purchases. Imagine how many liters customers in the capital lose every day. We believe that they have been engaged in this crime for the past one or two years," said Syahrul.

He said that police early this week arrested the operator of a gas station on Jl. Kampung Bandan in North Jakarta, identified as ES, 46, and confiscated six pieces of equipment that were used to suck out fuel while filling customer's cars.

The owner of a gas station on Jl. Bekasi Timur Raya identified as SM, 68, and her employee AS, 48, were also apprehended early this week.

Syahrul said police found four pieces of equipment that were used to pump back gasoline from the customer's vehicle gas tank.

Last week, police arrested an employee of the gas station on Jl. Mataram I identified as BL, 54, and the owner of the gas station on Jl. Suryo identified as SY, and confiscated several similar pieces of equipment.

"Most of them used the same method. They have equipment that enables them to pump back gasoline that flows out of their dispensers. We have confiscated all of their equipment to be used as evidence in court," Syahrul said.

He said only the gas station on Jl. Mataram I was forced to close as the equipment was welded to the pump, while three others were allowed to continue to operate.

"We didn't close down the other three gas stations because we think these are needed by people during this time of crisis," Syahrul said.

He said all of the suspects were still being interrogated at city police headquarters.

Syahrul said that all of them would be charged under Law No. 21/2001 on gas and oil, Law No. 8/1999 on consumer protection and Law No. 2/1981 on illegal meters, with a maximum punishment of five years in prison.

State oil and gas company Pertamina said in May that at least 51 gas stations across the Greater Jakarta area had tampered with their meters.

Pertamina said the 51 gas stations had meters that exceeded the tolerable level of 50 millimeters divergence between the amount of gas actually pumped and the amount recorded on the meter for every 10 liters of gas bought.

The 51 gas stations, among others, are located on Jl. Gatot Subroto, Jl. Raya Buncit, South Jakarta, Klender in East Jakarta, Cakung and Pluit in North Jakarta, several areas in West Jakarta, Bukit Sentul in Bogor, Jl. Raya Pekayon in Bekasi, and Jl. Raya Cipondoh in Tangerang.

So far, police have only closed down the gas station on Jl. Gatot Subroto and arrested its operators.