Business Owners Selling 'Fake Diesel' Caught in Nonsan and Gongju

Over 100 Damage Reports Filed
Police Investigate Distribution and Production Channels

On the 4th, Gongju Police Station announced that they apprehended Mr. A, a man in his 50s who operates a gas station, and Mr. B, a supplier of fake diesel, at around 2 p.m. the previous day on charges of violating the Petroleum and Petroleum Substitute Fuel Business Act.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A gas station operator who sold fake diesel fuel at two gas stations in Nonsan and Gongju, Chungnam, was arrested by the police.

On the 4th, Gongju Police Station announced that they arrested Mr. A, a man in his 50s who operates the gas stations, and Mr. B, the supplier of the fake diesel, at around 2 p.m. the previous day on charges of violating the Petroleum and Petroleum Substitute Fuel Business Act.

Mr. A is suspected of mixing a specific substance into automotive diesel fuel and selling it at gas stations located in Nonsan and Gongju.

Earlier, the police received numerous reports of vehicles breaking down after refueling at these gas stations and launched an investigation.

Victims who drove the affected vehicles reported to the police, "The vehicles showed symptoms such as malfunction of the exhaust gas reduction device and engine stalling. There is a problem with the fuel." Repair costs for the vehicles reportedly ranged from several million to tens of millions of Korean won.

Since the 28th of last month until recently, more than 100 related reports have been filed.

On the 3rd, the police conducted a search and seizure at the two gas stations operated by Mr. A, and during the investigation, they also discovered that Mr. B supplied fake petroleum to Mr. A.

The gas stations were previously caught for selling fake petroleum in January 2017.

Regarding this, the Korea Petroleum Management Service explained, "A large amount of silicon, an inorganic substance, was detected, suggesting that this is a peculiar form of fake petroleum, different from the typical fake petroleum seen so far."

The police are investigating the distribution and production routes of the fake diesel fuel with Mr. A and Mr. B.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.