Investigation continues into mobile phone scam

JAKARTA (JP): The head of the City Police's General Crimes Directorate, Lt. Col. Gories Mere, said that the investigation of four men allegedly using copied hand phones is still going on.

"There are no other suspects so far," Gories said.

The four entertainers, who have been identified as Deddy Dhukun, Yacob, Barlianto, and Dicky, were questioned on Thursday and later released on bail by the city police for using counterfeit hand phones.

Gories said police were also investigating the possibility that the four users of the copied hand phones had the permission of the legal owners.

"It could be that they got the hand phones as gifts," Gories said, adding that the matter would be investigated further.

Gories, however, questioned their admission that they had no idea that using copied phones was a crime.

"I think all modern people in Jakarta know they have to pay whenever they use telephones. As modern people, especially as entertainers, they should have known," Gories said.

During the past two weeks police arrested six other people for allegedly producing counterfeit hand phones and stealing telephone pulses. Police also confiscated 12 hand phones and an electronic serial number reader (ESNR) which was used to detect and copy the serial numbers of on-air hand phones.

Investigation

A preliminary investigation led to the duplicated hand phone buyers, including the four entertainers.

Meanwhile, City Police chief Maj. Gen. Dibyo Widodo said yesterday that detention of the four entertainers was being suspended.

The offense allegedly committed by the four entertainers is punishable by imprisonment of less than five years and hence, according to the law, they do not have to be detained.

"They are suspects and have been interrogated," Dibyo said.

Dibyo said some of the suspects even pretended not to know that they had committed a criminal act.

"They said their hand phones were off and they never used them," Dibyo said.

Gories said police would also investigate the possibility of copied hand phones being used in the Jakarta Stock Exchange.

"A report has been received by the police that many people in the Stock Exchange are using copied hand phones," Gories said. (01)