Soemarjono takes lie detector test on fake rupiah case

SURABAYA (JP): Surabaya Police interrogated on Saturday the main suspect in the distribution of Rp 4.7 billion counterfeited bank notes, Col. (ret) Soemarjono, for four hours using a lie detector.

Surabaya Police chief Col. Sri Kresno Bawono told the media here that Soemarjono was again questioned over his alleged involvement in supplying the paper used to make the fake rupiah notes.

The test was conducted by Surabaya Mobile Detective Unit chief First Lt. Budi Prayogo, who was accompanied by two officers who operated the instrument, Capt. Lukas Budi Susanto and Capt. M. Ali.

The police asked about 10 questions during the session, Sri Kresno said.

The lie detector was brought from the National Police Forensic Laboratory (Puslabfor) in a bid to shed more light on the case, which also involves 13 other suspects.

"Soemarjono looked very calm during the questioning. He gave a lot of simple answers, such as 'I don't know', 'I don't remember', 'It's not true', 'I forgot', 'It's up to them' and those kinds of replies," Sri Kresno said.

The record of Soemarjono's answers was immediately sent to the National Police Forensic Laboratory to be analyzed, he said.

"Soemarjono has been adamant with his denials. But remember, a lie detector is not the only evidence. We have other proof that he was involved in the scam," Sri Kresno said.

He said most of the other suspects said Soemarjono was the mastermind behind the production and circulation of the counterfeit money totaling Rp 4.7 billion.

"We will keep working to find out if there are any other men behind Soemarjono and we'll proceed with the legal process and take this case to court," the officer said.

This is probably the first major case which involves the use of a lie detector test.

During the session Soemarjono was accompanied by his lawyer Burhanuddin.

The investigators, however, said that Soemarjono looked familiar with the operation of the lie detector.

"He seems to know a lot about how the instrument works," a police officer, who witnessed the questioning, said.

Soemarjono was the manager of the triumphant Indonesian Thomas Cup badminton team in Kuala Lumpur this year before a further investigation alleged his involvement in the case. (nur/edt)