Five nabbed for falsifying shipping documents for crew
Five nabbed for falsifying shipping documents for crew
JAKARTA (JP): Five men have been arrested for allegedly
counterfeiting hundreds of documents required to join a ship's
crew.
City Police Spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said Saturday the
suspects had been producing the fake documents since 1994.
"The men's illegal business was finally revealed after a
shipping company rejected a candidate crew which applied with the
fake documents," he said without naming the firm.
The suspects were arrested Friday afternoon in a raid on their
hideout on Jl. Swadaya in Kebon Bawang, North Jakarta, Aritonang
said.
The five suspects were identified as Ruben Awaeh, 43, and
Armstrong Pontoh, 25, both of Kampung Bawang, Justinus Awaeh, 38,
of Kampung Makassar in East Jakarta, William Boyoh, 45, of Pondok
Gede also in East Jakarta and Romles Wanariam Kuba, 27, of Sungai
Bambu in North Jakarta.
Aritonang said many people who wanted to take short cuts to
become crew members had contacted the suspects for the documents.
"The suspects claimed they sold the documents for around Rp
35,000 (US$10) each," he said.
The suspects, however, said they could not remember how many
people had used their fake documents, added Aritonang.
"The counterfeited documents include Sailor Reference Letters
and Sailor Completeness Books. By law, only harbormasters are
allowed to issue such papers."
It was still not clear whether any of the suspects was a
former sailor, he said.
Police seized evidence including 41 official stamps of various
government institutions, three embosser stamps and at least 50
fake unused documents, he said.
"They've imitated the stamps of many institutions, including
harbormasters, which are related to the admission of ship's
crews," he said.
The five suspects had apparently written and signed each of
the fake documents themselves, as if they were the legitimate
officials who had to give their approval on the documents, he
said.
Aritonang said officers were still investigating the possible
involvement of the owner of a printing house in Cawang, East
Jakarta, where the suspects made their fake documents.
If there was enough evidence, the owner could also be arrested
as a suspect for allegedly helping other people commit their
crimes, he said.
He said the five arrested suspects had frequently met at the
printing house to produce fake documents and then dispersed to
find their own customers.
He declined to give detailed information on how the suspects
had run their business.
He said his men were still questioning the suspects who were
being detained at the North Jakarta police precinct.
"The men will be charged at least under Articles 274 of the
Criminal Code on the counterfeiting of government and official
letters or documents," he said.
If found guilty, each of the suspects faces a maximum penalty
of two years imprisonment. (cst)