Two money forgers handed jail terms
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)