TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Counterfeit money investigation at local university in Gowa continues
Local police are actively investigating the circulation of millions of counterfeit rupiah, allegedly produced at a state university in Gowa Regency. So far, 15 suspects have been arrested.
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
An officer displays counterfeit money in Rp 100,000 (US$6.22) denominations on Feb. 26. 2020, during a counterfeit money presentation at the Bank Indonesia building in Jakarta. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
T
he local police are continuing to investigate the circulation of hundreds of millions of counterfeit rupiah, allegedly produced at Alauddin State Islamic University in Gowa regency, South Sulawesi.
So far, the Gowa Police have seized counterfeit money ready for distribution and arrested 15 suspects involved in this counterfeit money network. The investigation also revealed that the syndicate operated across provinces.
Gowa Police chief Adj. Comr. Sr. Reonald TS Simanjuntak said that some of the suspects were on their way to Gowa.
“We have arrested 15 suspects, nine of them are already detained,” Reonald told reporters at the Gowa Police on Monday evening, as quoted by the Antara news agency.
“Five are on the way from Mamuju [in West Sulawesi], and another from Wajo regency [in South Sulawesi].”
Reonald added that the police were still developing the case.
“We may have more suspects. Please be patient because we are still developing the case.”
The police admitted that investigating this case has been quite challenging, as it involves several government players and private banks. They have also coordinated with the university's leadership as the counterfeit money production took place on campus.
Additionally, the counterfeit money that was printed is quite sophisticated and difficult to detect.
"In this investigation, we had to involve several banks because the counterfeit money is advanced. We also had to cooperate with a state university in Gowa Regency, as the counterfeit money was produced on campus,” Reonald said.
One of the suspects was revealed to be Andi Ibrahim, the university’s chief librarian.
University vice rector Khalifah Mustamin said that in addition to Andi, another university staff member was also arrested.
"The information we received from the police is indeed true — one is the library head, and another is a staff member," Khalifah told reporters at the campus, as quoted by detik.com on Monday.
Khalifah did not provide details on the involvement of Andi and the university staff member. He only confirmed that the suspected perpetrators would face legal action.
Information about the circulation of this counterfeit money came to light in early December when the police arrested one of the suspects in Pallangga district, Gowa regency, along with evidence of counterfeit bills worth Rp 500,000 (US$31.12) in five Rp 100,000 denomination bills.
Following the arrest, further investigation led to a raid on the university’s library building.
At the campus, police seized several pieces of evidence, including advanced printers used to produce the counterfeit money.
