Police arrest suspect, seize fake money

JAKARTA (JP): Police detectives arrested Yulius Sendjaya, alias Erick Halim, and seized counterfeit U.S. dollars and narcotics from his house on Jl. Perkasa in Sunter Agung subdistrict, North Jakarta, an officer said on Wednesday.

City police detectives chief Sr. Supt. Harry Montolalu said the suspect was arrested on Tuesday. In his house, police discovered US$7,000 in counterfeit $100 banknotes, 1,750 ecstasy pills, 250 grams of shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine), an ecstasy pressing machine and chemicals used in the production of ecstasy.

"The suspect admitted he received the fake money from a friend, who is still at large," Harry said during a media conference at Jakarta Police Headquarters.

The officer refused to disclose the identity of the suspect's friend, saying releasing the name would hamper the police's ongoing investigation.

While indicating that police were still searching for the producer of the counterfeit money, Harry said the 45-year-old Yulius would be charged with trafficking psychotropic substances.

Harry said the suspect would be charged under Article 60 of the 1997 law on psychotropic substances, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail and a fine of Rp 200 million ($22,471).

The capital and other large cities in the country have seen a number of counterfeiting cases over the past few months.

The Central Jakarta District Court is currently hearing a case against 10 defendants accused of being involved in the production and distribution of Rp 19.2 billion in counterfeit money.

A similar case allegedly involving a former internal affairs officer at the Army Strategic Reserves Command, Col. (ret) Soemarjono, is being investigated by the Surabaya Police in East Java. (asa)