Man jailed for forging money

Man jailed for forging money

TANGERANG (JP): Tangerang District Court sentenced a man to
three years and four months in jail on Monday for forging Rp
50,000 bank notes worth nearly Rp 5 billion (US$588,235).

Presiding judge Syamsul Hadi said Asiong, alias Cakra, 58, was
found guilty of forging the money in a shop-house in the Citra
Raya housing complex in Cikupa between March and April last year.

"Forged notes worth Rp 4.6 billion were seized and will
shortly be destroyed," Syamsul said.

He said equipment used in the forging process, including an
offset printing machine, two cutting machines and two negative
films would also be destroyed.

Asiong was found guilty of violating Article 244 of the
Criminal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in
jail.

The defendant shook the judge's hands and appeared pleased
after the verdict was read out, but later said he would consider
making an appeal against the sentence.

Prosecutor Syahrudin had asked the court to sentence Asiong to
four years and six months in jail.

Syahrudin said that Asiong and four accomplices -- Robertus
Iwan Wijaya, 46, Suranjaya, 26, Jushandi alias Anon, 65, and
Yusuf alias Khakim, 51 -- had distributed fake notes worth Rp 140
million in Bekasi, West Java. The notes were part of a batch of
counterfeit money worth Rp 300 million which the group planned to
distribute.

The other four defendants are being tried at the same court.
(41/jun)