Fake Intercity Gold Syndicate Revealed In Situbondo, Buru Police Main Supplier

The perpetrator was questioned by the Situbondo Police Satreskrim investigators, East Java (ANTARA/HO-Situbondo Police)

SITUBONDO - The Criminal Investigation Unit (Satreskrim) of the Situbondo Resort Police, East Java, uncovered a syndicate of intercity fake gold jewelry sellers with evidence of tens of grams of fake precious metal.

Situbondo Police Chief AKBP Rezi Dharmawan said members of the Satreskrim had arrested the perpetrator with the initials MJ (48) from Bajuran Village, Cerme District, Bondowoso Regency.

"Meanwhile, another perpetrator whose identity we have pocketed is in the pursuit of the Resmob team," said AKP Rezi Dharmawan, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, November 4.

Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of the Situbondo Police, AKP Agung Hartawan, said that the alleged fraud case in the sale of counterfeit gold jewelry began on Thursday (30/10) and then a woman with the initials IR (27), who was ordered by MJ, came to a gold merchant stall in Mimbaan Village, Panji District.

The woman who was told by the perpetrator to sell counterfeit gold jewelry weighing 10 grams for Rp. 15 million, and after the transaction the victim checked the gold and found that the metal turned out to be fake gold.

A few days later, continued AKP Agung, on Sunday (2/11), the woman with the initials IR came back to sell other gold jewelry.

However, the victim, who was suspicious, immediately secured IR with local residents, and after being interrogated, the woman admitted that she received the jewelry from MJ who was waiting at her rented house in Situbondo.

"Our members together with the residents then went to IR's rented house and secured MJ. When examined, MJ admitted that he got the fake gold from someone in Jember Regency," said Agung.

From the hands of the perpetrators of MJ, he said, the police confiscated a number of evidences of jewelry suspected of being fake gold with a total weight of more than 40 grams and a motorcycle without the license plate used by the perpetrators when carrying out the action.

"Until now, we are still developing to hunt down the main supplier of counterfeit gold. The identity of the supplier is known and we are currently pursuing it," said Agung.