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)