Bali Police act against 21 people in 18 subsidised-fuel cases

Denpasar — Bali Police and local police units acted against 21 people in 18 suspected cases involving subsidised fuel during long queues at petrol stations in Bali, police said on Oct. 17, 2026.

Why it matters: The action concerns subsidised-fuel resale and hoarding linked to queues at petrol stations across six Bali police jurisdictions, while one highlighted case proceeded criminally.

Police said they seized about 753 litres of subsidised fuel. The alleged practices included buying fuel for hoarding and reselling it online or at prices well above the official price.

The cases were handled across six police jurisdictions: Denpasar, Gianyar, Karangasem, Klungkung, Badung and Buleleng, according to Metro TV and BeritaSatu.com reports citing Bali Police officials.

One highlighted case involved a man identified by the initials IS from Tabanan. Police said he was suspected of repeatedly buying subsidised diesel using a subsidy barcode, storing it in jerrycans and reselling it. The case was reported in Gerokgak, Tabanan, and involved about 300 litres of diesel.

Police said the broader investigation also involved the resale of subsidised Pertalite through social media, online marketplaces and cash-on-delivery transactions. The seized evidence reportedly included fuel containers and vehicles.

The 18 cases did not all carry the same outcome. DenPost reported that 20 people were to undergo guidance and administrative measures, while the person in the 300-litre diesel case was processed criminally.

That suspect was reported as facing Article 55 of Indonesia's Oil and Gas Law, as amended, which carries a maximum six-year prison sentence. The reports also cited a maximum fine of 60 billion rupiah, although published reports differed on the applicable fine figure.

Sources

• Metro TV
• BeritaSatu.com
• DenPost
• BaliPost