Bankrupt arrested for counterfeiting

BOGOR (JP): A bankrupt businessman has been arrested for alleged involvement in money counterfeiting, police said here on Tuesday.

Police also seized a plastic bag containing fake Rp 20,000 banknotes worth Rp 156 million as evidence.

Bogor Police chief Sr. Comr. Taufik Ridha identified the suspect as Aceng, 35, a resident of Banjarsari village in Ciamis regency.

Aceng was arrested in the early hours of Monday at a restaurant as he was waiting for his accomplices, identified as Andi, 36, Faisal, 30 and Aris, 29. The last three remain at large.

"He was caught by a routine patrol and was arrested for being in possession of counterfeit money," Taufik said.

Aceng, once a shrimp pond owner, claimed that he was the victim of the racket as he had been duped into handing over his own, real money in the mistaken belief that it would somehow be replicated.

To police, Aceng said he had initially met Aris in February at the bus terminal in Ciamis. Aris then introduced him to Andi and Faisal who were said to be able to replicate banknotes by up to three or four times the original amount.

After making his acquaintance, the two men asked Aceng to give them Rp 2 million to be replicated, which he did. A few days later Aceng handed over another Rp 30 million, even though his first down payment had yet to pay any dividends.

In return, Andi gave Aceng a dark green briefcase and told him not to open it until he safely arrived home, saying that if he disobeyed their instructions it would abort the banknote replication process.

When he realized that he had been conned, Aceng contacted Andi and Faisal who merely responded that the replication process had failed.

The two men promised to replicate Aceng's money later in Jakarta and they agreed beforehand to meet at the restaurant.

"Before Andi and Faisal arrived, Aceng was arrested by our officers," Taufik said.(21/emf)