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)