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)