Fake TNI Officer in Gunungkidul Arrested After Swindling Paliyan Resident Out of Tens of Millions

A man posing as a TNI officer, identified by the initials SNS (31), has been arrested by police for defrauding a resident of Paliyan, Gunungkidul, out of tens of millions of rupiah. Police also discovered TNI paraphernalia, air guns, and a fake TNI membership card (KTA) at the suspect’s rented home.

Gunungkidul Police Criminal Investigation Unit Chief AKP Tri Hartanto said the case began when the victim, K (47), a resident of Sodo, Paliyan, Gunungkidul, became acquainted with the suspect, SNS (31), a resident of Wadaslintang, Wonosobo, Central Java, in early July 2026. The two met when K was about to conduct a land sale transaction.

“At that time, the suspect also offered the victim a business partnership in waste processing,” he said when contacted by journalists on Saturday (15/8/2026).

To convince the victim, SNS claimed to have connections in three ministries, which he said could smooth the permitting process for the waste processing business.

“The victim was eventually interested. The suspect also invited the victim to Jakarta to arrange the permits, but all costs were borne by the victim,” he said.

Tri continued that SNS also requested additional money from the victim’s wife. Suspicious of SNS’s actions, the victim’s wife asked both of them to return to Wonosari.

“Because Rp 42.5 million had already been spent with no results, the victim felt aggrieved and ultimately reported the suspect to the police,” he said.

The breakdown of the requests was Rp 19.5 million under the pretext of arranging business permits, followed by a further Rp 23 million requested from the victim for the purpose of setting up an office.

Following up on the report, police immediately launched an investigation. After the investigation, police managed to apprehend SNS at his rented house in the Wonosari area several days ago.

“When searching the suspect’s rented house, we found a complete TNI service uniform, a red beret, a bulletproof vest, one pistol and one long-barrelled weapon resembling an AK-47, as well as a membership card,” he explained.

Regarding the authenticity of the firearms, Tri said the weapons did not use calibre ammunition. As for where the weapons came from, Tri said SNS had purchased them online.

“Those weapons are all air guns, so they are not firearms with any particular calibre,” he said.

As for the origin of the TNI paraphernalia, Tri revealed that SNS had obtained them by purchasing them.

“The TNI paraphernalia, he bought it,” he said.

To confirm the suspect’s status, Tri said he immediately coordinated with Kodim 0730/Gunungkidul. The result showed that SNS was not a member of that military district command.

“And from the examination, it turned out the suspect was not a TNI member. The suspect is a repeat offender in fraud cases in Temanggung and Purworejo, using the modus operandi of impersonating a TNI member,” he said.

Tri added that SNS is currently in detention at the Gunungkidul Police Station. Tri said police are continuing their investigation into SNS.