Wed, 08 Mar 2000

Fake rupiah notes confiscated

BOGOR (JP): Local police raided a rented house in the Pasir Angin area of Cipayung village which allegedly was used in the production of counterfeit rupiah notes.

The man who leased the house, identified as Alfian, alias Sofyan, managed to elude police involved in the early Monday morning raid.

Police, however, seized Rp 1.875 billion in counterfeit Rp 50,000 notes and a roll of paper as evidence.

Cisarua Police chief First Lt. Ogiyanto said on Tuesday relatives and associates of Alfian claimed they knew nothing about the counterfeiting operation.

Five people were in the house when the police arrived. The five were identified as Alfian's wife Sri Agustin, his daughter Santi Yuniati, her husband Oon Rifai and two guests from Semarang, Central Java, Hendra Wijaya and Yenni, alias Chin Lian Nio.

While searching the house, police discovered a pile of counterfeit bills in a cardboard box placed on top of a stack of firewood in the kitchen, Ogiyanto said.

The five people in the house at the time of the raid currently are being questioned by the police, while Alfian remains at large. (21/edt)