Rohul Police Uncover Illegal Pertalite Scam Syndicate from North Sumatra
ROKAN HULU-JAYA NEWS.COM — The Rokan Hulu Police Criminal Investigation Unit has uncovered two cases of misuse of the transportation and trade of subsidized Pertalite fuel, allegedly involving a cross-provincial smuggling network. The disclosure was made during a press conference in the Rohul Police Headquarters lobby on Sunday afternoon (December 7, 2025). The incident was led by Deputy Chief of Police, Commissioner I Made Juni Artawan, S.I.K., M.H., accompanied by officers and members of the media.
In his presentation, the Deputy Chief revealed that the two cases exhibited a similar pattern: the perpetrators originated from North Sumatra and exploited distribution loopholes at gas stations in the Rokan Hulu area to shun subsidized fuel, then resold it at a higher price in the Padang Lawas area.
In the first case, a car tank was modified, and the fuel was refined in a hidden location. The discovery occurred on Friday (December 5th) on Jalan Pesantren II, Pasir Putih Timur Hamlet, Rambah District. After receiving information about fuel shunting at a Pasir Pengaraian gas station, the Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit, Inspector Andi Mohammad Raihansyah Farhat, S.Tr.K., a tip-off from the Criminal Investigation Unit, the police chief, received information about fuel shunting at a gas station in Pasir Pengaraian City.
The team that arrived at the location discovered a white Toyota Rush that looked suspicious because it was repeatedly queuing for Pertalite fuel using a barcode that did not match the vehicle’s identification. After following the car, it entered a small alley and stopped in the yard of a resident’s house.
At the scene, police found a man identified as PL (28 years old) distilling Pertalite from a modified car tank with a tap to facilitate the transfer of fuel to jerry cans. Three 40-liter jerry cans and one 10-liter jerry can containing Pertalite were recovered as evidence.
The perpetrator, identified as PL, admitted to purchasing Pertalite from a local gas station and planning to transport it to Sibuhuan, Padang Lawas, to resell it for Rp 20,000 per liter, nearly double the subsidized price. Police also apprehended a witness at the scene, identified as KL, a Padang Lawas resident. All evidence, including jerry cans, hoses, funnels, barcodes, Rp 4,630,000 in cash, and vehicles, was immediately confiscated.
The second case involved a motorcycle swindler group arrested in Talikumain. The arrest was made on Saturday night (December 6th) by the Tambusai Police after Police Chief, First Inspector Kristian Hadinata Sirait, S.E., received a public report regarding the busy swindler activity in front of the HSL Talikumain gas station.
Tambusai Police Criminal Investigation Unit Head, Aipda Marta Kusuma, and his team immediately went to the location and found three men transferring Pertalite from a motorcycle into jerry cans in the yard of a resident’s house on Jalan Tuanku Tambusai – Talikumain. The three men identified themselves as BH (49), MS (23), and PH (24).
They claimed to be from North Sumatra and purchased Pertalite from the HSL gas station for Rp 10,000 per liter, then resold it in Padang Lawas for Rp 18,000 per liter. Police confiscated a motorized pedicab, two Honda Verza motorcycles, one Honda CB150R, and four jerry cans of Pertalite from the perpetrators.
These two revelations demonstrate a similar pattern: the perpetrators repeatedly queued at gas stations. The vehicles were then used as mobile storage devices, and the fuel was distilled into jerry cans at a location they deemed safe. All of the subsidized fuel was transported across provinces to Padang Lawas to be resold at high prices. The motive for all the perpetrators was economic.
Based on their actions, the perpetrators were charged under Article 55 of Law No. 22 of 2001 concerning Oil and Gas, as amended by Law No. 6 of 2023 concerning Job Creation, which carries a prison sentence of up to six years and a fine of up to IDR 60 billion.
The Deputy Chief of the Rokan Hulu Police, Commissioner I Made Juni Artawan, S.I.K., M.H., emphasized that the practice of shunting subsidized fuel not only harms the state but also disrupts the availability of fuel for the public. “We will continue to take firm action. Subsidized fuel is intended for the public, not for sale for personal gain,” he asserted.
He also urged the public to actively report suspicious activity at gas stations to prevent further irregularities. The press conference concluded at 2:15 PM WIB and proceeded peacefully and conducively.***
Diky’R
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