Airline Ticket Agents Take Advantage Of COVID-19 Task Force Rules, Sell Fake PCR Letters

JAKARTA - The police arrested a man with the initials FN for selling fake antigen swab and PCR certificates. In their action, the perpetrators took advantage of government regulations regarding the completeness of documents to travel.

"The modus operandi offers consumers that people will travel both long distances and close to the requirements according to the rules of the COVID-19 Task Force, that every trip must carry an H-2 PCR statement. Or an H-1 antigen swab and also proof of the first vaccination," he said. Head of Public Relations of Polda Metro Jaya Kombes Yusri Yunus told reporters, Tuesday, July 27.

In addition, the perpetrator also took advantage of his job as an air ticket selling agent. With this job, the perpetrator lured his potential victims to take care of all the requirements.

"He is able to prepare a PCR without going through a test. Later it will come out, its authenticity can be guaranteed. With an additional fee for fake PCR, it costs Rp. 700 thousand," said Yusri.

Based on the results of the examination, the perpetrators have been in action since June and managed to sell 20 fake PCR letters. The perpetrators made a profit of tens of millions of rupiah.

"The confession has been playing since last June. More than 20 fake PCRs have been made, we will investigate more than that," said Yusri.

"The profit is almost Rp. 11 million," he continued.

However, investigators are still investigating the information from the perpetrators. Because, from his current statement, someone else made the fake PCR letter.

"We are still pursuing it, because it was not FN that made PCR, FN also ordered someone who is now a DPO," said Yusri.

As a result of his actions, FN was charged with Articles 35 and 51 of the ITE Law No. 19 of 2016 on Amendments to Law No. 11 of 2008 and Article 263 of the Criminal Code.