Soemarjono gets two years in jail for counterfeiting

Soemarjono gets two years in jail for counterfeiting

SURABAYA (JP): The Surabaya District Court sentenced on
Thursday retired Army colonel Soemarjono, the main defendant in a
Rp 4.28 billion (US$455,000) counterfeit money case, to two years
in jail, two years lighter than the prosecutors had demanded.

Practically, the defendant will serve only 17 months in jail
as he has been detained for seven months.

The defendant, manager of the Indonesian Thomas Cup
(Badminton) team in Kuala Lumpur in May, did not react when
presiding judge Hirman Purwanakusuma read the verdict.

However, he stood and congratulated the defense lawyers, the
judges and the prosecutors, saying he was dissatisfied and
innocent.

The defendant rushed to a car, escorted by the police, before
reporters could question him.

The judges said the defendant was proven guilty of violating
Paragraph 1 of Article 55 of the Criminal Code on currency
counterfeiting.

The maximum sentence for the offense is 15 years in jail.

"The defendant has been proven guilty of being involved in the
planning, production and distribution of the counterfeit rupiah
notes," presiding judge Hirman said.

The judge said two boxes containing fake rupiah notes valued
at Rp 4.2 billion were taken by two men identified as Miyun Hadi
Suwito and Slamet Hardjo Sumitro from the defendant's residence
on Jl. Melati 3, Pesanggrahan, South Jakarta.

"The two men handed over the boxes to Mohammad Si'in to do the
finishing touches on the fake notes. Si'in owns a printing
company," Hirman said.

At previous hearings, Soemarjono said a friend identified
as Budiono introduced him to Miyun. Miyun then introduced
Soemarjono to Slamet Hardjo, who is also a retired Army colonel.
However, Soemarjono has denied that the three were involved in
counterfeiting.

The prosecutors have not succeeded in bringing Budiono to
court.

The judges also refused the withdrawal of the statements of
the three key witnesses made before the police. Miyun, Slamet
Hardjo and another witness Muhammad Multi had requested that
their statements made before the police not be used in court.

"After studying the testimonies of eight other witnesses, the
withdrawal of the statements by these three witnesses, made
before the police, is legally unacceptable. The other witnesses
have said that the defendant had played a significant role in the
production and distribution of the fake notes," Judge Hirman
said.

"The damning factor is that the defendant had tarnished the
government's image during the financial crisis, while the
mitigating factor is that the defendant had dedicated his life to
the nation as an Army officer. He has also brought the Indonesian
Thomas Cup team to victory in Kuala Lumpur, before the
counterfeit money was circulated," said the judge.

Prosecutor Donny Kadnezar and lead defense lawyer K.G. Widjaja
said they would consider appealing. (nur/sur)