E. Timorese student arrested

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: An East Timorese student who is registered at a university in Java has been arrested in possession of fake rupiah banknotes.

Kupang Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Jermias Mirah said on Thursday that the student, identified only as RS, 21, was arrested as he was handing over the fake banknotes to pay for a ticket to Surabaya on the KM Serayu ferry.

RS pleaded innocence, saying he did not know his banknotes were fake. He said he had unwittingly changed U.S. dollar banknotes into rupiah with a person at Comoro housing complex in Dili. -- JP