Forged stamps and documents with police names seized

Forged stamps and documents with police names seized

Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Police have arrested a suspected forger and are seeking two
others in relation to the forgery of car documents. They also
seized hundreds of bogus documents stamped with police officers
names and signatures, including car transfer documents.

Jakarta Police auto-theft chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Boy Rafli Amar
said on Tuesday that it was the first time police had arrested
anyone suspected of falsifying car transfer documents. Car
transfer papers are required when cars are moved and reregistered
in other provinces.

Boy also said that police suspected that the syndicate was
collaborating with a car-theft group, forming a strong and
organized car stealing chain.

Betty Lymardyantje, 41, was arrested on Nov. 20, suspected of
being a member of the car theft ring.

"We haven't captured any member of the auto-theft syndicate
believed to be working with the document forgery group yet. There
are still two main suspects who are on our DPO (wanted list),"
said Boy. Boy added that Betty admitted to transferring cars
mostly to Aceh.

"But we also suspect transfers to other areas such as East
Kalimantan since we received reports from East Kalimantan Police
some time ago about fake car transfer documents from Jakarta," he
said.

On Nov. 19, police detained two men during a transaction
involving a silver Audi car which had been reported stolen on
Nov. 5. The police impounded the car and questioned the buyer,
identified as RIY, and the seller, An Suh, who told police that a
man, identified as WW, had given him a car to sell.

WW is already on the police wanted list for forging various
types of car documents.

Also during questioning, the seller told police that he got
the papers for the car from a woman named Betty.

Police arrested her in a hotel in Bekasi and raided a house
she shared with IW at Harapan Regency housing D5/31 in Bekasi.

At the house, police discovered hundreds of fake documents,
including 216 blank car ownership certificates, 240 invoices for
several car brands, eight car transfer papers, and other bogus
documents, as well as 72 police stamps, and eight sets of fake
vehicle plates.

However, there was no sign of her partners in crime, IW and
WW.

Boy said that the discovery of fake stamps with officers'
names and statements such as "registered with the city police"
convinced him that the syndicate was professional and could
produce "real but fake" documents with falsified signatures.

"They seem to be experts at this since they had been able to
produce fake car transfer and other documents as if the papers
had been legally signed and issued by the police," Boy said.

However, Boy dismissed suspicions of any insiders being
involved in the crime.

Betty claimed that it was IW who forged the documents for the
Audi based on a request from WW, but she "has admitted to
assisting IW in producing the fake vehicle registration," Boy
said.