Three arrested over counterfeit

SEMARANG: Three men have been arrested for allegedly producing and distributing fake rupiah notes in Wonosobo regency, thanks to local residents' tip-off, Central Java spokesman Superintendent M. Ramlie said on Monday.

Ramlie said that two of the suspects Suyono and Gunawan were residents of Wonosobo, while another suspect Agus Tono hailed from Sukabumi, West Java.

"Police also seized counterfeited Rp 50,000 notes totaling Rp 33.7 million, roles of paper, a computer, a scanner and other paraphernalia," Ramlie said.

According to Ramlie, the counterfeit notes produced by the three suspects looked so perfect that it was not easy for anybody to recognize the fake notes as unoriginal.

"I believe that the production of fake notes has a link with those in Semarang, Jakarta and other cities," he said, vowing to combat the illegal business to the end. (har/sur)