Rp500 Million Staple Food Fraud Gang Who Paid With A Blank Check In Sukoharjo Arrested

JAKARTA - The Sukoharjo Police have arrested five perpetrators of a conspiracy to commit food fraud that took place at the Tawang Ruko, Ngombakan Village, Sukoharjo Regency, Central Java. Losses due to this fraud reached Rp 500 million.

Sukoharjo Police Chief AKBP Wahyu Nugroho Setyawan said the five perpetrators had the initials Hy (57), a resident of Godog Karangpawitan, Garut, West Java; TS (55) resident of Jalan Halilintar No. 4 Kebon Pala, Makassar District, East Jakarta.

Next, Sg (59), a resident of Jombang Tangsi, Jombang Cilegon Banten; Sm (61), a resident of Glunungan Village, Ambulu Jember, East Java; and WM (56), a resident of Sukaragam Village, Serang Baru Bekasi. They are now being detained and questioned at the Sukoharjo Police Headquarters for further proceedings.

The gang of perpetrators of the fraud case killed as many as 13 people with losses reaching Rp. 500 million.

The incident began with a TS actor renting a shophouse in Tawang, Ngombakan Village, Polokarto District, Sukoharjo Regency, Central Java, to be used as a warehouse for buying and selling basic necessities, starting August 9.

The other perpetrators Hy, SG, and SM were tasked with finding food orders for their victims to buy goods. Purchased goods are sent to the shophouse warehouse.

After the goods are sent, the WM perpetrator in charge of paying with a blank check. This incident took place on Thursday, September 9, at around 14.00 WIB.

"The motive for this fraud case is theft and embezzlement because the perpetrators admit that they are in debt and to fulfill their daily needs," said the police chief.

The police chief said the perpetrators were a gang of five people, each of whom had a role.

The suspect also explained the mode of theft, namely buying goods from the victim, then sending the goods to the victim, then being given a blank check by the perpetrator.

"After receiving the goods from the victim, the perpetrator sold them, then fled," said the police chief.

Police arrested the perpetrator at a rented house in Grobogan, Central Java, on Friday, September 24 at around 20.00 WIB.

The police also found evidence in the form of a check worth Rp. 33 million, a note for delivery of goods, an APV car, a motorcycle, two cell phones, shoes, bags, and clothes from the crime.

For the actions of the perpetrators under Article 378 of the Criminal Code and/or Article 372 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 55 of the Criminal Code regarding fraud and/or embezzlement or participating in committing a criminal act as referred to with a maximum penalty of 4 years in prison.