Four arrested for forging spare parts

JAKARTA (JP): Four people were arrested Friday in Central Jakarta for selling old spare parts as if they were new.

Police seized five truckloads of car spares, including brake shoes, bolts and valves, which were to be sold for at least Rp 50 million.

The parts were for several vehicle brands.

One of the suspects had tried to bribe the arresting officers with Rp 10 million (US$4,100), a source at the City Police Headquarters said.

Two warehouses believed to be used to store the used spare parts were temporarily closed following the arrest on Jl. Karang Anyar Permai.

The warehouses belong to two of the arrested people, A Yung and Susan, police said. Details of the remaining two suspects were not available.

"The suspects confessed to having bought used spare parts to sell back to customers, mostly spare parts dealers or vehicle workshop owners," the source said.

The new-looking spare parts were cleaned and repaired where needed, and sold in new boxes at discounted prices.

The scam came to light when a former customer reported it to the police.

The customer, who had bought spare parts wholesale, was told by a buyer that the equipment was not new.

The police then watched over the activities at the warehouses for at least a week before raiding the buildings. (cst)