Police Hunt Intellectual Actors and Funders of Subsidised Fuel Mafia, Several Investors Added to Wanted List
Bareskrim Polri has affirmed its commitment to thoroughly eradicate the misuse of subsidised fuel and LPG, targeting the roots of the issue. The police are now focusing on the intellectual actors and funders behind these organised illegal networks.
Director of Specific Economic Crimes (Tipidter) at Bareskrim Polri, Brigjen Moh. Irhamni, stated that investigations will not stop at field-level perpetrators but will trace the masterminds and financiers of these illegal networks.
“All our investigators are instructed to pursue the funders. So, we are chasing the investors,” he said during a press conference at the Bhayangkara Field at Police Headquarters in Jakarta on Tuesday (7/4).
According to Irhamni, the misuse of subsidised fuel typically involves well-structured networks, where field actors serve merely as executors, while the main players operate behind the scenes.
He acknowledged that the biggest challenge in uncovering these cases is hunting down the funders who often flee when authorities begin enforcement actions.
“It is indeed not easy. Sometimes, only the field perpetrators are caught, while the investors escape. But we assure that they will be added to the DPO (wanted persons list),” he stressed.
Irhamni added that including these funders on the wanted list is part of a strategy to sever the crime chain and provide a deterrent effect for other perpetrators.
Additionally, Polri continues to develop investigations to uncover potentially broader networks, including involvement of other undetected parties.
However, to date, Bareskrim Polri claims it has not found any involvement of state officials in the misuse of subsidised fuel and LPG cases.
“We have not found that this misuse involves state officials. It is generally carried out by the public, such as transferring the contents of 3-kilogram LPG cylinders to larger sizes,” Irhamni explained.
He emphasised that if indications of involvement by other parties, including certain groups, are found during the investigation process, Polri will not hesitate to take action in accordance with applicable law.
The effort to pursue intellectual actors is a crucial part of the law enforcement strategy, given that the misuse of subsidised fuel has been deemed difficult to eradicate if only targeting lower-level perpetrators.
By targeting funders and network controllers, Polri hopes to halt illegal practices comprehensively, rather than merely disrupting temporary field activities.
This step also aligns with Polri’s commitment to ensure that the energy subsidies provided by the government are truly enjoyed by entitled citizens and not misused for commercial interests.
Moving forward, Bareskrim Polri will continue to strengthen coordination with various parties, including financial institutions and related agencies, to trace fund flows and restrict the movements of perpetrators.
With this approach, it is hoped that case revelations will not only be reactive but also capable of dismantling the network structure entirely to its roots.