Police say retired general among money scam suspects
Police say retired general among money scam suspects
SURABAYA (JP): Surabaya Police confirmed on Monday that three
retired Army officers, including a retired general, were
suspected in the production and circulation of counterfeit money
totaling Rp 4.7 billion (US$546,433).
Surabaya City Police deputy chief Lt. Col Susno Duadji
identified the three as Brig. Gen. (ret) Soemarjono, Col. (ret)
Slamet Hardjo and First Corp. (ret) Shi'in.
"Slamet Hardjo and Shi'in are among 13 suspects now in police
detention, while Soemarjono has yet to arrive in Indonesia from
Malaysia," Susno said.
"The arrested suspects said the general was behind the game.
But we'll investigate this very carefully if the information is
correct."
Soemarjono was the manager of the Indonesian Thomas Cup
badminton team which was victorious in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
The national badminton team arrived at Soekarno-Hatta
International Airport in Jakarta at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, but
reporters looking for Soemarjono could not find him among the
contingent of players and officials.
"He was with us on the plane from Kuala Lumpur," a team
member, who asked not to be identified, said.
Another team official, who also asked for anonymity, said that
he saw Soemarjono sitting in the back row on the plane. "I didn't
see him as we arrived at the airport."
Unofficial sources believed Soemarjono was probably picked up
by the police upon arrival.
Kompas reported that Soemarjono said in Kuala Lumpur that he
was surprised at being named a suspect in the counterfeit money
business.
He said he was ready for questioning when he arrived in
Jakarta.
Susno said police raided Soemarjono's house in Cakung, East
Jakarta. He said no evidence was found in the house, but he did
not specify the date of the raid.
Susno said the fake money syndicate was uncovered in Surabaya
on May 12 with the arrest of Slamet Hardjo. The 61-year-old
resident of Jati Waringin, East Jakarta, was apprehended with
fake money valued at Rp 1.9 million. From him the Surabaya
Police, in cooperation with the Jakarta Police, learned of the
site for producing the fake money in Cakung, East Jakarta, Susno
said.
"The police confiscated large sheets bearing a huge number of
uncut fake Rp 50,000 notes totaling Rp 4.7 billion. The notes
consisted of the old one bearing the picture of Soeharto and new
ones with the picture of WR Supratman," Susno said, referring to
the composer of the Indonesian anthem Indonesia Raya.
"Paraphernalia believed to be used in producing the fake notes
has also been seized."
He added the suspects said a total of Rp 30 million of the
fake money was already in circulation.
Susno described the syndicate's network as precise and
professional.
"They are committed to keeping secrets and claimed not to know
each other. We separated them in the cells."
Each pack of fake notes totaling up to Rp 5 million was
bundled with labels with Bank Central Asia embossed on them,
Susno said. (nur/ivy/sur)