Many distributors involved in fake fuel sale: Police
Many distributors involved in fake fuel sale: Police
JAKARTA (JP): City Police have found strong indications that
many owners of diesel fuel distribution companies are directly
involved in the mixing and selling of fake fuel in and around the
city.
"We need strong support from the public for our investigations
by giving us more information about the distributors' illegal
activities," Head of Operational Affairs of the Special Alert
Police Squad, Capt. Syaiful Bd. said yesterday.
On Tuesday, City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Mochammad Hindarto
told reporters his detectives have identified the owner of a firm
who ordered his workers to mix diesel fuel with kerosene in a 50-
50 ratio before selling it to customers, mostly industrial
companies.
The one-star general also revealed that a number of police
personnel are believed to have been backing the business for the
sake of money.
"They (the corrupt police officers) stood by and watch the
activities without doing anything (to stop them)," Hindarto said.
He admitted he had no further information in his hands about
the progress of the investigation on the suspected firm.
Earlier many believed that the mixing and selling of the fake
diesel fuel was conducted under the initiative of the company's
drivers and their accomplices.
Process
Based on police investigations, the mixing is normally carried
out during the early hours of the morning by the drivers and
their assistants of two different companies at certain points.
For example, the driver of an 8,000-liter capacity fuel tanker
of a diesel fuel distributor company "shared" half of the volume
with his colleague, with an empty fuel tanker from the same firm.
The two would then drive the trucks to a quiet place, away from
public scrutiny, and meet with another waiting fuel tanker --
from another firm -- filled with 8,000 liters of kerosene.
Previously, police believed these activities were not known by
the drivers' employers.
"Now," Hindarto said, "we have found indications that the
employers played a role in the illegal activities."
He gave no further explanation concerning the executives'
role. "We're still investigating the case," he said.
Normally the fake diesel fuel is sold to the firm's regular
customers, particularly factories in Tangerang and Bekasi.
Syaiful said, "If we cannot stop these activities, businessmen
and our national trade growth will suffer great losses."
On Nov. 5, at 1:00 a.m., Syaiful and his team caught five
drivers of fuel and kerosene tanker from two different firms red-
handed in the Rempoa district, South Jakarta. During the raid,
police also seized four generator sets and four fuel tankers
belonging to PT Teguh Karya Abadi and one fuel tanker from PT
Yoso Arto Potro. Each tanker has an 8,000-liter fuel capacity.
Preliminary questioning has found the fake diesel fuel was
destined for distribution to a textile factory in Cilincing,
North Jakarta.
On Oct. 31, his team arrested a married couple for their
alleged involvement in the distribution of similar fake diesel
fuel. Their activities were allegedly supported by a police
officer.
In Cikupa, Tangerang, local police have arrested members of a
syndicate, including police personnel, allegedly found running
the same type of business through three distributor companies
identified only as PT TDN, PT TBN and PBBP Cooperative. The three
companies are known as the major kerosene supplier to the city.
(bsr)