Police foil fuel syndicate in Bandarlampung

Oyos H.N. , The Jakarta Post , Bandarlampung | Sat, 05/03/2008 11:14 AM | The Archipelago

Bandarlampung police Thursday cracked down on a fuel processing syndicate suspected of distributing illegally-processed diesel fuel in the province.

More than 8,700 liters of fuel and a fuel processor were confiscated and four members of the syndicate were detained when the police raided a storehouse in the city early Thursday.

"The four, named as IW, STN, RY and RPR, are still undergoing intensive interrogation, while a police officer involved in the syndicate is still at large," chief of the Bandarlampung police Sr. Comr. Syauqie Achmad said Friday.

He said the police officer suspect, identified as chief brig. HD, would be captured because his son, also involved in the case, had already been arrested.

Syauqie said the fuel processing was performed using conventional processors supplied from other countries. "The syndicate produces diesel fuel from kerosene and other chemicals."

He said he would bring the case to court and charge the suspects of violating the 2001 minerals and gas law, which carriers a maximum six-year jail sentence and Rp 6 billion fine.

The police are still investigating whether the diesel fuel was supplied from a larger syndicate based in a different province.

The police earlier seized 3,200 liters of subsidized kerosene from another syndicate, also involving a police officer, leading to the arrest of a local businessman.

Comments (0) | Post comment

A | A | A |