Karawang Police Arrest Perpetrator of Subsidised LPG Adulteration, Potential State Loss of Rp164 Million

Karawang Police have uncovered the misuse of subsidised Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) at a shophouse in Graha 3 Housing, Bengle Ward, Majalaya Subdistrict, Karawang Regency. A man with initials RRH (32) was arrested while transferring the contents of 3kg LPG cylinders into 12kg and 5.5kg LPG cylinders. The Head of Public Relations of Karawang Police, Ipda Cep Wildan, explained that the revelation stemmed from public complaints about the scarcity of subsidised gas. Officers conducted an investigation and discovered gas transfer activities using modified equipment that did not meet safety standards. “We apprehended RRH (32) while he was transferring subsidised gas into non-subsidised cylinders using modified equipment,” said Ipda Cep Wildan on Thursday (9/4). Based on the examination, the suspect RRH had been running this illicit business for approximately eight months. His method involved collecting 3kg LPG cylinders from nearby shops for Rp19,000 each, then transferring the contents into non-subsidised cylinders using modified iron pipes and ice cubes to accelerate the gas pressure transfer process. To convince buyers, the suspect installed fake seals purchased online. “The perpetrator admitted to only performing the transfers when there were orders. Ironically, he did not weigh the 12kg cylinders, which greatly disadvantaged consumers,” Cep Wildan revealed. During the arrest, police seized 18 subsidised 3kg gas cylinders, 18 12kg cylinders, 7 5.5kg cylinders from the adulteration, 24 modified iron pipes, one three-wheeled motorcycle for distribution, as well as hundreds of fake seals and gas rubbers. The potential state loss from the suspect’s actions is estimated at Rp164,125,000 from a total of 65 adulterations. RRH is now detained and charged under Article 55 of Law No. 22 of 2001 on Oil and Natural Gas, as amended by Law No. 6 of 2023 on the Stipulation of the Job Creation Government Regulation, with a maximum penalty of six years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rp60 billion. “We are continuing to develop the case, coordinating with relevant agencies, and completing the case file to hand it over to the prosecutor’s office soon,” Cep Wildan concluded.