Member of Indonesian Parliament Demands Thorough Police Investigation into Fuel Subsidy Misappropriation in Jember
Jember, East Java – A member of the Indonesian Parliament’s House of Representatives and Vice Chair of Commission XII, Bambang Haryadi, has demanded that police conduct a thorough investigation into allegations of subsidised fuel misappropriation at fuel station (SPBU) 54.681.11 on Teuku Umar Street, Jember Regency, East Java.
“This type of crime typically operates through three circles: firstly the petrol station owner as the source, secondly the backing or officials protecting the crime, and thirdly the receivers ready to take the subsidised fuel,” Bambang stated in a statement issued in Jember on Sunday.
According to him, his office had inspected the petrol station suspected of diverting subsidised diesel fuel distribution and found irregularities, including CCTV cameras being switched off at night.
“The characteristics of a petrol station suspected of deviating from proper operations include operational patterns and refuelling activities at specific times – for instance, normal supplies in the morning, closure in the afternoon citing fuel depletion, yet at night the lights are dimmed and vehicles enter to transfer fuel,” he explained.
He noted that subsidised diesel fuel should be allocated for low-income populations such as fishermen and farmers who have frequently complained about difficulty obtaining diesel for their boats and agricultural equipment.
“It happens that my electoral district is in Jember. I frequently receive complaints from fishermen in Puger who struggle to obtain diesel for their boats. It turns out that there are individuals taking it for other purposes,” he said.
Bambang requested the Jember Police Department conduct a thorough investigation into all parties involved in the subsidised fuel misappropriation at the petrol station on Teuku Umar Street and prosecute perpetrators under the Anti-Corruption Crimes Act, as diesel is a subsidised commodity.
Deputy Chief of Jember Police, Colonel Ferry Dharmawan, stated that police continue to investigate allegations of fuel misuse at the petrol station.
“We have agreed with the House of Representatives to temporarily seal this petrol station whilst conducting further investigation, so there is no temporary operational activity at the station,” he said.
He explained that police investigators would trace possible involvement of various parties, including officials or other individuals if proven to be involved in the subsidised fuel misappropriation case in Jember.
Jember Police Department has already sealed SPBU 54.681.11 on Teuku Umar Street, Kebonsari Village, Sumbersari District on Saturday (14 March) by placing police tape at the premises.