Two money forgers handed jail terms

JAKARTA (JP): A judge at the Central Jakarta District Court sentenced on Wednesday defendants Cornelia Sugiono and Syamsurizal to 30 months and 24 months in jail respectively for counterfeiting money.

"The defendants are guilty of violating Article 245 of the Criminal Code," presiding judge Manis Sudjono said in a hearing at the district court. The article carries a maximum sentence of five years in jail.

Prosecutor Madju Ambarita had requested that the court sentence Cornelia to 30 months in jail and Syamsurizal to 24 months in jail.

The judge said soon after successful production of the fake money, Cornelia met with Syamsurizal in a house near Hotel Cempaka in Central Jakarta on July 26 last year, discussing methods to sell the money.

The 38-year-old Cornelia promised Syamsurizal a certain sum of money if he could find people who were willing to buy the money.

Syamsurizal then introduced Andi Marzuki, a friend of his, as a potential buyer. Cornelia and Syamsurizal agreed to meet Andi at the house of Ishak, who is also a friend of Syamsurizal, on Jl. Cempaka Barat II B no. 3B in Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta.

"Cornelia and Syamsurizal met Andi Marzuki in Ishak's house on the same day and Cornelia offered fake money valued Rp 6,310,000 (US$852) to Andi," said the judge.

He said the money consisted of 17 fake Rp 50,000 bills and 546 fake Rp 10,000 bills.

The judge said both Cornelia and Andi Marzuki then bargained over the values of the money.

"They both eventually agreed that Andi would pay Cornelia Rp 3 million," he said.

Andi said he would first withdraw his money at nearby Bank BTPN Gunung Sahari Branch on Jl. Gunung Sahari then he would pay for the fake money.

"The two (Cornelia and Syamsurizal) trusted Andi, and let him go to the bank, to get his money," said the judge.

But, instead of withdrawing money, Andi reported the wrongdoing to the bank's chief, Gandi Abdul Madjid.

"The bank's chief determined that the money was fake and reported the matter to the Central Jakarta Police Precinct," said the judge, adding that the police personnel then arrested both defendants.

Mitigate

In an earlier hearing, defendant Cornelia asked the judge to mitigate the sentence.

"I was forced to do something for money because my youngest child was ill and my three other sons needed money for their school fees," she said in tears, adding that she would still be responsible for raising the children after she completed her jail term.

The defense asked the judge to take a 10-minute break to consider her appeal. However, judge Manis remained firm with his decision to sentence her to 30 months in jail. (asa)