inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Riau Islands Regional Police arrested three perpetrators of misuse and illegal distribution of subsidized Pertalite fuel in Batam City.

The Head of Public Relations of the Riau Islands Regional Police, Senior Superintendent Nona Pricillia Ohei, stated that the arrests were a follow-up to three police reports received on April 13, 2026.

"We are following up on three reports related to alleged misuse of subsidized fuel, with estimated state losses reaching IDR 692.16 million," said Nona on Friday (4/17/2026).

Meanwhile, the Director of Special Criminal Investigation of the Riau Islands Regional Police, Senior Superintendent Silvester Simamora, explained that the perpetrators used recommendation letters to purchase subsidized fuel in large quantities at several gas stations in Batam.

"The perpetrators used recommendation letters to purchase Pertalite, then resold it at a higher price," said Simamora. He stated that the perpetrators purchased Pertalite for around IDR 10,000 per liter and resold it for up to IDR 15,000 per liter.

The fuel was purchased at gas stations in the Temiang and Sungai Harapan areas and transported in a pickup truck. Police confiscated 44 jerry cans containing 1,452 liters of Pertalite, two bundles of recommendation letters from the Batam Transportation Agency, and IDR 1.4 million in cash from suspect HM.

Suspect TS confiscated 44 jerry cans containing 1,452 liters of Pertalite and two bundles of recommendation letters, while suspect DS confiscated 33 jerry cans containing 1,056 liters of Pertalite, a recommendation letter, and IDR 650,000 in cash.

The three perpetrators are currently being held at the Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation of the Riau Islands Regional Police and charged under Article 40 of Law Number 22 of 2001 concerning Oil and Gas and Article 55 of the Indonesian Criminal Code.

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