Singaporean tried over fake money

Singaporean tried over fake money

ID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya

The Surabaya District Court, East Java, started hearing on
Tuesday the trial of a Singaporean accused of possessing
counterfeit dollars with a total face value of US$3,000.

Prosecutor Hari Utomo accused Rasyid bin Abdul Rahman of
violating articles 245 and 378 of the Criminal Code, which carry
a maximum jail term of 19 years in total.

"For 80 of U.S dollar banknotes worth US$100 each, which have
been found to be fake, the defendant is charged under Article 245
of the Criminal Code," Utomo told the trial.

The article carries a 15-year prison sentence, he added.

Rasyid had also deceived the Hotel Sheraton in Surabaya, said
Utomo, and was therefore also being charged with violating
Article 378 of the Criminal Code, which carries an additional
jail term of four years.

The case was uncovered last July when Rasyid failed to pay his
bill at the Sheraton Hotel.

The defendant eventually paid the amount owing to a hotel
employee using banknotes amounting to US$3,000. The money was
found to be fake.

"The defendant has confessed to the crime as he had yet not
received money that was to be sent by his wife," Utomo said.

Rasyid was arrested by Tegalsari Police officers following a
report from the Sheraton Hotel's management.

The police examined the suspect's room at the hotel and found
more counterfeit banknotes totaling US$5,000.

Rasyid's lawyer Shianny Tetty declined to comment on the
charges against her Singaporean client.

The trial was adjourned until Friday.