Prosecutor demands 4-year jail term for Soemarjono
Prosecutor demands 4-year jail term for Soemarjono
SURABAYA, East Java (JP): A prosecutor demanded a four-year
prison term on Monday for retired Army colonel Soemarjono, the
primary defendant in a Rp 4.28 billion (US$455,000) counterfeit
money case.
"The defendant violated Article 244 of the Criminal Code on
counterfeit money production for the purpose of distribution,"
prosecutor Donny Kadnezar told the Surabaya District Court
hearing, presided over by Judge Hirman Purnakusuma.
The Article carries a maximum sentence of 15 years
imprisonment.
"Prosecutors have proven in the initial court hearing that
along with witnesses Miyun Hadi Suwiro and Slamet Hardjo Sumitro,
the defendant is guilty of producing some of the fake money,"
Donny told the hearing.
Soemarjono, the former chief of internal affairs at the Army
Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) and a one-time manager of
the Indonesian Thomas Cup badminton team, was commended for
serving the Army and the badminton team by the prosecutor.
"These are the mitigating factors. The defendant is not the
mastermind behind this operation, but only worked in it," Donny
said.
Soemarjono had denied answering questions asked by Jakarta
Police detectives upon his arrival in the capital from Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 22.
As the manager of the Indonesian Thomas Cup and Uber Cup
badminton teams this year, Soemarjono was in Kuala Lumpur to head
the badminton squad when the police announced his alleged role in
the production and circulation of counterfeit money.
Deputy chief of Surabaya Police Lt. Col. Susno Duadji had said
the police confiscated large sheets of paper bearing uncut fake
Rp 50,000 notes totaling Rp 4.7 billion (US$546,433).
The notes were of older bills with the picture of former
president Soeharto and the new ones with the picture of WR
Supratman, the composer of the national anthem.
Equipment believed to have been used to produce the phony
notes was also confiscated, Susno said.
"Police have also located the 'factory' of the fake money in
Cakung, East Jakarta."
With Soemarjono's detention, there are now 14 suspects in the
counterfeit money scam.
Jakarta Police detectives arrested Soemarjono at his residence
on Jl. Melati in Sector IX of Bintaro, Tangerang on May 22, Asst.
Supt. Rycko Amelza Daniel, the detective chief for monetary
crimes, said.
Rycko had said Soemarjono was suspected of being involved in
two separate counterfeit money cases.
"The Surabaya case is more notorious. Another suspect in this
case, Army Col. (ret) Slamet Hardjo, said the counterfeit bills,
amounting to Rp 1.9 billion (US$223,529), he was carrying on him
when arrested, were from Soemarjono," Rycko said. (nur/ylt)