Be Careful, Using Dirhams And Dinars As Transaction Tools Can Be Sentenced To 1 Year In Prison

JAKARTA - Bank Indonesia (BI) asks the public to use a legal currency as a means of payment, namely the rupiah. The use of currencies other than rupiah in economic transaction activities in Indonesia is threatened with a 1 year prison sentence.

This statement was issued by BI following the circulation of news about the use of dirhams and dinars which were used as means of payment and transactions at Muamalah Market, Depok, West Java.

Head of the Communication Department of Bank Indonesia Erwin Haryono said, based on Article 23 B of the 1945 Constitution jo. Article 1 number 1 and number 2, Article 2 paragraph (1) and Article 21 paragraph (1) of the Currency Law, the rupiah must be used for transactions for payment purposes, settlement of obligations that must be fulfilled with money, and other financial transactions.

"Thus, if there is a transaction using money other than rupiah, it violates Article 21 of the currency law, with a maximum imprisonment of 1 year and a maximum fine of Rp. 200 million," Erwin explained in his written statement, quoted by VOI, Friday, January 29.

Erwin also said that if there were parties who refused to accept rupiah in a sale and purchase transaction, the related party could be charged with the same criminal sanction.

Erwin said that until now, his party has been actively taking a persuasive approach to educating the public to understand the fighting. Including, he continued, in the case of the use of dinars and dirhams in Depok Muamalah Market.

"BI is committed to continuing to encourage the movement to love and care for the rupiah together with the relevant authorities and all components of society as a symbol of sovereignty," said Erwin.