Casual worker arrested with counterfeit notes
Casual worker arrested with counterfeit notes
TANGERANG (JP): A 40-year-old construction worker was
apprehended on Tuesday for allegedly using counterfeit money to
buy a second-hand radio from a Pabuaran villager here.
The Tangerang Police detective chief for economic crimes,
Second Lt. Suhartono, told reporters on Wednesday that Suarman
was arrested based on the report of Sukma Jaya, 28, who told the
police that his brother, Asjaya, 55, had received three Rp 20,000
notes from the man as payment for a second-hand radio.
Police immediately went to Pabuaran in the Curug Kulon
subdistrict to question Suarna.
"He was then handcuffed for buying things with counterfeit
money," Suhartono said.
The officer said Asjaya became suspicious after noticing that
the color of the paper notes, which were still fresh, looked
dull. He then told his younger brother about his discovery.
Following the arrest, Tangerang Police brought the suspect to
his home at Cigeulis village in Pandeglang, where the officers
confiscated a small printing machine and 122 pieces of blank
paper the size of rupiah notes.
Suhartono said the machine was believed to have been used by
the suspect to produce the counterfeit notes.
Police also confiscated from the house Brazilian money in the
form of 98 notes in denominations of 5,000 cruzados.
Suarman, a construction worker from Pandeglang, West Java, is
now detained at Curug police station pending further
investigation.
Spread
The country has witnessed several cases of money
counterfeiting over the past two years. Many of the arrested
suspects are believed to have worked for syndicates specializing
in the illegal business.
There have been no details about the exact amount of the
counterfeit money that has been circulated, but based on the
testimony of suspects, it could already have reached billions of
rupiah.
In January this year, South Jakarta Police arrested a 38-year-
old housewife in connection with the use of counterfeit money.
From her house, the officers seized Rp 400 million of fake
money in the form of 8,000 Rp 50,000 notes and a bag of Rp 500
notes.
The female suspect admitted to have spent some Rp 6.6 billion
in counterfeit money at shopping centers and traditional markets
as well as on taxi fares in the capital over the last few years.
Authorities have for years refused to explain such cases in
detail, saying that crimes related to counterfeit money and its
distribution should not be revealed to the public for fear of
causing anxiety.
According to Article No. 244 and No. 551 of the Criminal Code,
those found guilty of counterfeiting will receive a maximum
punishment of 15 years in prison.
Early this year, the Tangerang District Court sentenced two
members of a syndicate that produced counterfeit money amounting
to over Rp 5 billion.
The first, Jie Jushandi, alias Anon, 55, was sentenced to
three years in jail after being found guilty of bankrolling the
counterfeiting, while Suranjana, 25, was sentenced to two years
for his involvement as a machine operator.
The two immediately shook hands with the judge upon hearing
their sentences, which were lighter than the six years and four
years respectively pressed for by the prosecutors. (41/bsr)