Three witnesses questioned by police over alleged hoarding of LPG in Lumajang

Police investigators from Lumajang Resort Police in East Java have questioned three witnesses in connection with the alleged hoarding of subsidised 3kg LPG cylinders in Jarit Village, Candipuro Subdistrict. “We have currently examined three witnesses who are owners of depots. The case will be further developed,” said Deputy Chief of Lumajang Police, Commissioner Suwarno, in Lumajang on Saturday. Suwarno explained that investigators are still probing the status of the witnesses, whether as depot owners or part of the distribution agency. The full identities of the witnesses will be provided later. He stated that the investigation into the case is a follow-up to a report from the Lumajang Regency Government regarding the scarcity of subsidised LPG on the market. “To date, the investigation process is still ongoing,” he said. Perpetrators of subsidised LPG hoarding could be charged under Law No. 7 of 2014 on Trade, facing a maximum prison sentence of five years and fines up to Rp50 billion. Meanwhile, the Lumajang Regency Government has closed one LPG depot in Jarit Village after discovering nearly 1,000 LPG cylinders stored there, exceeding the regulation limit of only 200 cylinders. “We suspect that certain agents and depots are transferring the contents of 3kg LPG to 12kg non-subsidised cylinders,” he said. He assessed that such practices not only violate regulations but also worsen the shortage of subsidised LPG intended for underprivileged communities. Indah also urged the public to report any indications of LPG distribution misuse, such as sales above the highest retail price (HET) or suspicious activities involving mixing and hoarding.