Jakarta – Officers from the Special Crimes Directorate (Ditreskrimsus) of Polda Metro Jaya arrested 12 suspects selling US dollar (USD) counterfeit notes worth IDR 5.855 billion at two locations in West Jakarta and South Jakarta.
From this arrest, 3,922 USD 100 notes valued at IDR5.855 billion were seized as evidence. Every 1,000 pieces of counterfeit notes are sold at Rp50 million to Rp100 million.
“Starting from information from the public, there was an allegation that a group wanted to offer counterfeit currency in the form of USD. We then investigated and we caught them at the TKP,” said the Director of Special Criminal Investigation for Polda Metro Jaya, KBP Auliansyah Lubis during a press conference at Polda Metro Jaya, Friday (19/5) yesterday.
He continued, arrests were made in two places in Jakarta. On April 28, 2023, at the Simple Padang Restaurant, Jalan Panjang Kelapa Dua, Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta, the police arrested 8 perpetrators, namely MZ, ASA, RDP, AS, IR, Y alias G, M alias Y and AGS.
In the second arrest, the police arrested 4 people, namely RW, R, MS and A at Warung Upnormal Taman Puring, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, on 9 May 2023.
The arrests of all the suspects were outlined in reports numbered LP/A/29/IV/2023/SPKT.DITRESKRIMSUS/POLDA METRO JAYA on April 29, 2024 and LP/A/30/2023/SPKT.DITRESKRIMSUS/POLDA METRO JAYA on May 9, 2023.
Auliansyah Lubis said, the chronology of the perpetrator’s arrest, started with reports of the sale of counterfeit money. Then the police moved to trap the perpetrators as if they wanted to buy the fake US dollar bills. They then made an appointment at the restaurant to make a transaction. While the transaction was taking place, arrests were made.
“They admit that this is the first time they want to sell. But they know bad luck,” said this jasmine officer who graduated from the 1994 Tunggal Panaluan Battalion of the Police Academy.
His party, continued Auliansyah, is still investigating the source of the counterfeit money. “This sale can be detrimental individually and on a large scale because the amount can cause inflation,” he explained.
The suspected dealers of counterfeit money are threatened with Article 245 of the Criminal Code juncto Article 55 and Article 56. The maximum penalty is 15 years in prison. Bembo
