Eight arrested in fake money raid

SURABAYA: Police have arrested eight alleged members of a counterfeiting gang in a series of raids over the past couple of weeks.

Police chief of detectives Maj. Edwin M.B. said on Wednesday the eight men were arrested at their homes and were currently being detained at Surabaya Police Headquarters.

The eight are Setyo Santoso alias Hok, 41 from Gresik; Lilik Wahyu, 40, Eko Junaidi, 39, Ninik Sugiharti, 55, Bambang, 36, all from Kediri; Imam Sanusi, 50, from Mojokerto; Kasan Amat, 48, from Malang; and David, 40, from the Central Java town of Kebumen.

A total of Rp 1 million in fake notes in Rp 50,000 and 20,000 denomination has been seized as evidence.

"We're still investigating whether the gang was part of the counterfeit syndicate that (Col. ret) Soemarjono was involved in," Edwin said.

The police are putting the final touches to their dossiers on Col. (ret) Soemarjono, the main suspect in a Rp 4.7 billion counterfeiting case, and 13 other suspects.

Soemarjono could be charged with producing and distributing fake notes, a crime which carries a maximum sentence of between nine and 15 years in jail.

He has repeatedly denied his role in the crime. (nur/edt)