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Counterfeit money seized at PSBB checkpoint, suspects were on the way to shaman
Suspects found transporting 29,600 fake bills.
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Tasikmalaya Police chief Sr. Adj. Comr. Hendria Lesmana (left) and Bank Indonesia’s Tasikmalaya branch head, Heru Saptiaji, show on Wednesday counterfeit money seized on at one of Tasikmalaya's large-scale social restriction checkpoints in West Java on Monday. (kompas.com/Irwan Nugraha)
T
asikmalaya Police seized counterfeit money in the form of Rp 100,000 (US$6.71) bills at one of its checkpoints set up to enforce large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in West Java on Monday.
“We seized counterfeit money at the Cikunir, Singaparna checkpoint,” Tasikmalaya Police chief Sr. Adj. Comr. Hendria Lesmana said on Wednesday as quoted by kompas.com.
He said two people were arrested on the spot while transporting 29,600 counterfeit bills. After investigating the case further, the police arrested another two suspects.
“The suspects, identified as MD, NF, MS and JU, came from Jakarta, Cianjur [in West Java] and Tangerang [in Banten],” Hendria said during a press conference for the case on Thursday, as quoted from kompas.com.
He went on to say that the suspects were detained at the Tasikmalaya regional police headquarters, adding that the police were investigating whether the money was self-produced or connected to a syndicate.
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However, Hendria said the suspects did not intend to distribute the counterfeit money, instead they planned to seek out a shaman in the regency believed to be able to turn fake money into real money, according to police.
“Nevertheless, we will proceed with the charge of possession of counterfeit money as the case develops,” Hendra said.
The suspects have been charged under Article 36 of the 2011 Currency Law on producing and processing counterfeit bills, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and Rp 10 billion fine upon conviction.
Bank Indonesia’s Tasikmalaya branch head, Heru Saptiaji, thanked the police for arresting the suspects.
He confirmed that the bills that were seized by the police did not have the central bank’s security logo and did not use embossed printing, in addition to using regular paper instead of the special paper used to print money. (mfp)
