East Java Police Dismantle Syndicate Of Diploma Makers To Fake KTPs

SURABAYA - The East Java Police have uncovered a syndicate of forged diplomas, identity cards (KTP), and family cards (KK). The police arrested two suspects involved in the syndicate.

"The perpetrators carried out this illegal activity, the aim was to meet economic needs," said Head of Public Relations of the East Java Police, Kombes Gatot Repli Handoko at the East Java Police Headquarters, Surabaya, Tuesday, June 22.

Two perpetrators with the initials MW, 32, residents of Lajing Village, Bangkalan, and suspect BP, 26, residents of Kenjeran, Surabaya. The forgery of the diploma was detected by the Cyber Team around May.

"The sale of fake diplomas is sold through social media (social media) such as Facebook (FB), Instagram (IG) and also WhatsApp (WA)," he said.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Director of Criminal Investigation at the East Java Police, AKBP Zulham, added that there were nine types of products made by the two suspects, with different price variations.

For example, for an elementary school diploma, the price is set at Rp. 500 thousand, for junior high school at Rp. 700 thousand, for SMA/SMK at Rp. 800 thousand, for an undergraduate degree at Rp. 2 million, and for a master's degree, Rp. 2.5 million.

"This suspect also forged an ID card with a price of Rp. 300 thousand, a family card of Rp. 300 thousand, a birth certificate of Rp. 250 thousand and a security guard training certificate of Rp. 500 thousand," said Zulham.

Zulham said the two suspects since launching their actions in 2019, have made a profit of Rp. 86 million. The mode is, the two actors offer to people who want to get a job with certain conditions.

According to Zulham, the suspect explained to the victim that to order a fake diploma, it was enough to call the suspect BP. The trick, simply by sending the desired name and title. "From the development of the examination, currently officers are tracking people who use the services of the two perpetrators," he said.

From the actions of the two suspects, they were subject to Article 35 in conjunction with Article 51 Paragraph (1) of Law Number 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions and or Article 263 in conjunction with Article 55 of the Criminal Code. With a penalty of 12 years in prison.