Fake Antigen Rapid Test Swab Letter Makers Threaten 4 Years In Prison

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the Task Force for Handling COVID-19, Wiku Adisasmito, said that anyone who provides a fake antigen swab test result certificate, which is a condition for traveling out of town, will face a criminal sentence of four years in prison.

"In terms of criminal law, the act of providing a fake doctor's certificate can be subject to sanctions as regulated in the Criminal Code Article 267 paragraph 1, Article 268 paragraph 1 and 2, namely imprisonment for four years," Wiku said in a press conference broadcast on the Secretariat YouTube account. President, Thursday, December 31st.

He reminded that this kind of letter forgery was very dangerous because it was thought to cause casualties.

"The impact of the forgery can cause casualties if a person who turns out to be positive uses a fake certificate then infects other vulnerable people. So don't ever play with this," he said.

Wiku assessed that all parties should be aware that the regulation regarding this rapid antigen certificate is a must to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community, especially in the middle of the holiday season at the end of this year.

"It is fitting for the public to realize that forging antigen test certificates is very dangerous," he said.

As previously reported, the government has stipulated regulations on the obligation to pocket the results of the rapid antigen test and PCR swab as a condition for trips out of town. But there are, naughty people who take advantage of this strict regulatory loophole to offer fake COVID-19 free certificates.

Volunteer Care for COVID-19 Prevention Tirta Mandira Hudi or what is known as doctor Tirta, exposed the sale of fake PCR swab certificates through his Twitter account. In his upload, he shared findings about individuals and several screenshots that showed the account offered a fake health certificate. This health certificate free from COVID-19 is indeed needed for the requirements of traveling on vacation, one of which is to the Bali area.

"You @hanzdays dare to sell fake PCR letters. Many people are miserable because of the Covid PCR policy to Bali, don't you use the boss for personal gain! You trade on closed friends as well as many of your friends complaining to the boss's cave. It's hard for you to use it. Explain it later in front of the police, friend, "wrote Dr. Tirta, quoted from his Instagram, Wednesday, December 30.

Responding to this, the Stakeholder Relation Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I Ngurah Rai Taufan Yudhistira emphasized that the Port Health Office (KKP) has been in full responsibility of checking the medical test results for prospective passengers to be free from COVID-19.

"It is certain that the KKP may not have been negligent in carrying out the examination or validation of the requirements for a medical certificate for flying. Whether it's antigen, be it PCR," he said, when contacted by VOI, Wednesday, December 30.

Taufan also admitted that he believed the inspection carried out by the KKP was detailed so that it was possible that passengers with fake medical test results could easily pass. He explained that the examinations that were carried out started from checking the date, letterhead of the medical test results, the doctor's signature, and so on.

"We believe that the KKP will carry out its duties with full responsibility. Because this is related to a pandemic and this pandemic is not playing games, we believe it is impossible that the KKP is not strict," said Taufan.

In addition, Taufan also admitted that he could not confirm whether the sale of fake PCR test letters revealed by Doctor Tirta had actually occurred.

"For example, if it is found, are we sure it is true. We do not know whether the news is true, whether the setting we do not know. We think the news is not necessarily true," he said.