Phony VCDs, CDs, CD-Roms seized

Phony VCDs, CDs, CD-Roms seized

JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Police detectives seized some 1
million counterfeit video compact discs (VCDs) and CDs in a raid
on two houses on Jl. Dwiwarna in Kartini subdistrict, Sawah
Besar, on Wednesday morning.

Central Jakarta Police detectives chief Capt. Hendra
Suhartiyono told reporters that his men arrested the owner of the
houses -- identified only as Arisman, 40 -- and eight of his
staff.

"When we raided the three-story house which they had
transformed into a factory, they were working away as usual," he
said.

According to Hendra, the houses had been always used by the
suspects to produce the counterfeit VCDs, which included
pornographic movies, CD-ROMs and PlayStation CDs.

"Based on preliminary questioning, we found out that they
began operations three years ago," he said.

The police also confiscated six computers and some original
VCDs which they used for duplication, the official added.

None of the suspects were willing to explain the distribution
of their bogus products but police suspect that they sold them to
traders at several well-known electronic shopping centers, such
as those in the Mangga Dua area, West Jakarta.

The suspects said they spent at least 20 minutes producing one
counterfeited VCD using a computer.

A phony pornographic VCD, for example, was offered to traders
at Rp 7,000 and a CD-Rom at Rp 12,000.

Vendors at Gajah Mada Plaza and in the Glodok shopping area in
West Jakarta usually sell the counterfeited products at Rp 15,000
and Rp 20,000 each, respectively.

Police found that the ground floor of the house factory was
used to store blank disks, the second floor for half-finished
products and the upper story for producing.

Hendra pledged to further investigate the case and the
networks of the suspects' illegal business, which has caused
losses worth billions of rupiah to the state. (06)