BIN agents arrested for counterfeiting<\/p>\n
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The National Police has arrested seven officers from the
\npowerful State Intelligence Agency (BIN). They are alleged to
\nhave been involved in producing fake banknotes in a long-running
\ncrime that the authorities have found difficult to put a stop to.<\/p>\n
Ironically, one of the seven officers was a retired police
\nofficer Brig. Gen. Zyaeri, a chief of staff at BIN's special
\ndivision for the eradication of currency counterfeiting.<\/p>\n
According to the police, the six other suspects -- Haryanto,
\nJaelani, Woronakus Saptoro, Muhammad Iskandar and two others with
\nthe initials DD and TA -- were civil servants working in the
\nagency.<\/p>\n
The seven officers are charged with violating articles 244,
\n245 and 250 of the Criminal Code, carrying a maximum jail term of
\n15 years if proven guilty.<\/p>\n
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar claimed on Friday
\nthat he had received reports from BIN that its members were
\nallegedly involved in the production of counterfeit money.<\/p>\n
"We're still investigating the case. It's now in process,"
\nDa'i said.<\/p>\n
Da'i added that BIN had surrendered all seven officers into
\nthe custody of the police on Thursday, and that the police would
\nwork immediately to solve the case.<\/p>\n
National police deputy chief of detectives Insp. Gen. Dadang
\nGarnida added that currently the police were still collecting
\nevidence to press charges against the seven suspects.<\/p>\n
"If we find enough evidence, they will be detained for sure.
\nThis is a new case, however, and we have only just started our
\ninvestigation," Dadang said.<\/p>\n
He added that the police would be seeking more information
\nfrom related witnesses in the near future, but he refused to
\nelaborate.<\/p>\n
"We will also work together with Bank Indonesia (BI) and the
\ncountry's anti-money laundering agency, the Financial Transaction
\nReports Analysis Center (PPATK), to solve the case."<\/p>\n
So far, the police have confiscated 2,000 units of Rp 100,000
\n(US$11) banknotes, and other equipment such as a printing
\nmachine.<\/p>\n
The police refused to mention the exact location where the
\ncounterfeit money was being produced, or when the operation
\nstarted.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, director of the national police fraud squad, Brig.
\nGen. Andi Chaeruddin, said that the police had actually wanted to
\nkeep the case quiet fearing that publicity could negatively
\naffect the nation's economy.<\/p>\n
Separately, Yunus Husein, head of PPATK, said that the case
\nwas allegedly linked to the discovery in 2004 of fake notes at a
\nprivate bank located in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Data from Bank Indonesia shows that from January to September
\n2004 BI has collected 36,550 fake notes comprising 15,940 units
\nof Rp 50,000 notes, 12,309 Rp 100,000 notes, 4,258 Rp 20,000
\nnotes, 3,863 Rp 10,000 notes, and 190 Rp 5,000 bills.<\/p>\n
The data showed an increase from the previous year where BI
\nonly detected a total of 24,656 counterfeit notes. There is an
\nincreasing pattern of Rp 100,000 banknotes being counterfeited as
\ncompared to other denominations.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bin-agents-arrested-for-counterfeiting-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}