Bankrupt arrested for counterfeiting

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)