Bogus reporter tried for extortion

JAKARTA: A man went on trial on Monday for allegedly using a fake ID card and documents from Media Indonesia daily to extort money from members of the House of Representatives.

Prosecutor Ferry Tas charged defendant Aldo Hendra Putra, 25, with violating Article 378 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison.

Aldo, according to the indictment, using the name Danoef, posed as a reporter from Media Indonesia to enter an office in the House building on May 30. He showed his fake ID card to Herna Dwi Kusumawati, an office staffer, and asked for money.

Herna, who was suspicious of Aldo, contacted Media Indonesia, which confirmed that they had no reporters by the name of Danoef. Aldo was detained by security guards at the office and then handed over to the police for investigation.

The defendant, who was not accompanied by a lawyer, said he had on a number of occasions posed as a reporter from a leading newspaper and extorted money from House members or their office staffers. He claimed that he received his fake IDs and documents from a man named Iskandar.

The trial will resume next week. -- JP