Police arrest suspect, seize fake money

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)