Police Investigate Alleged Forgery of Russian Embassy Number Plates Found on Avanza Veloz
Police have seized an Avanza Veloz driver who was using Russian Embassy diplomatic number plate CD-37 04, which did not correspond to the vehicle. Officers are now investigating the suspected forgery of the plate.
“We are sending it to the General Crimes Unit to follow up on the forgery,” said AKBP Ojo Ruslani, Head of the Law Enforcement Sub-directorate at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Traffic Directorate, speaking to reporters on Tuesday (24/2/2026).
Meanwhile, the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Traffic Directorate is handling the matter of improper use of number plates. The Veloz driver was issued a traffic citation under Article 280 of Law Number 22 of 2009 on Road Traffic and Transport.
Article 280 of the Road Traffic and Transport Law states: “Any person who drives a motor vehicle on a road without displaying a motor vehicle registration number plate as determined by the Indonesian National Police as referred to in Article 68 paragraph (1) shall be subject to a maximum imprisonment of two months or a maximum fine of Rp500,000.”
Ojo explained that the CD-37 04 plate used on the Avanza Veloz was registered at the Embassy of the Russian Federation for a BMW vehicle. The case came to light when Russian Embassy staff noticed the plate was being used by someone else.
“Their staff spotted the plate number being used by someone and reported it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry then sent a letter to the Law Enforcement Directorate of the National Traffic Police Corps, copied to the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Traffic Directorate,” Ojo said.
Following up on the complaint, police conducted an investigation. The Avanza Veloz was eventually seized whilst travelling on the Inner City Toll Road on Tuesday morning.
“It was secured on the Inner City Toll Road, Tegal Parang heading westbound, on Tuesday 24 February 2026 at 08.15 Western Indonesian Time by the Highway Patrol Unit Jaya 1,” he said.
In addition to the CD-37 04 plate, the Russian Embassy also reported the discovery of another fake diplomatic plate bearing the code 37 (Russia), namely CD-37 436. The Russian Embassy confirmed that this plate was not registered as a diplomatic vehicle plate at the embassy.
“So there are two plates. 37 is the Russian Embassy code, but CD-37 436 is fake because it is not registered at the Russian Embassy,” he continued.
He said the fake CD-37 436 plate is still being sought. Meanwhile, the Avanza Veloz using the CD-37 04 plate has been dealt with through a traffic citation.
“A citation was issued, after which we will send it to the General Crimes Unit to follow up on the forgery. As for the criminal aspect, the General Crimes Unit will investigate the suspected criminal forgery. The citation was issued under Article 280 of the Road Traffic and Transport Law for use of a registration number not corresponding to its designated purpose,” he added.