Four Arrested in Mataram for Counterfeit Vehicle Registration Syndicate
The General Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimum) of the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Regional Police has uncovered a practice of forging vehicle registration certificates (STNK). Four people were arrested in connection with the case.
The Head of Public Relations at NTB Regional Police, Commissioner Mohammad Kholid, said those arrested had the initials MR, S, MRA and MHA. They operated in Mataram.
“The four who were secured had different roles,” said Kholid at a press conference at NTB Regional Police Headquarters on Thursday (23/7/2026).
The Director of Criminal Investigation at NTB Regional Police, Commissioner Arisandi, explained that MR acted as the maker of the fake STNK, while suspect S provided the premises for producing the forged documents. The two other suspects, meanwhile, used fake STNKs produced by the other perpetrators.
The perpetrators operated by receiving orders via WhatsApp. Customers would send their vehicle details, which were then entered into a computer to create and print the fake STNK.
“The perpetrator created the fake STNK using a computer, then printed it and handed it directly to the customer,” said Arisandi.
The perpetrators charged Rp750,000 for a motorcycle STNK, while for cars the price started from Rp1 million.
In addition to arresting the suspects, police also seized evidence including a Grand Max car with a suspected false number plate, a laptop, printer, ink, two mobile phones, document-making equipment, stamps, samples of fake STNKs, and completed printed STNKs. Vehicle notices and evidence of WhatsApp conversations were also seized.
For their actions, suspect MR has been charged under Article 391 paragraph (1) of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code. Meanwhile, MRA and MHA were charged under Article 391 paragraph (2) of the same law for using forged documents.
“Suspect S is suspected of violating Article 391 letters a and b of the Criminal Code for allegedly facilitating the crime by providing premises and the means to carry it out,” Arisandi explained.