BI Urges The Public To Be Alert And Recognize Mutilation Money

Rupiah (Photo: Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Bank Indonesia (BI) urges the public to increase vigilance and understanding in recognizing the characteristics of mutilation money to avoid rupiah money that was intentionally damaged.

"We always urge the whole community to increase their vigilance in transactions, by seeing if there are pieces with the same pattern of damage, and there is a difference in the series number of rupiahs on the lower left side with the rupiah currency series number on the top right and to recognize closely the characteristics of the authenticity of rupiah currency," said Head of the Bank Indonesia Money Management Department (BI) Marlison quoting Antara.

Marlison said that information through social media related to mutilation money is an old news or case that has gone viral again by social media users. However, public awareness of all forms of counterfeit money needs to be increased, one of which is the mode of combining real rupiah currency with fake ones.

Mutilation money is included in the category of rupiah currency which was intentionally damaged as referred to in Article 25 Paragraph (1) of the Currency Law Number 7 of 2011.

What is meant by 'destructing' is to change shape, or change the physical size of the original, including burning, sticking it in, removing part, or tearing.

The act of destroying rupiah money can be subject to criminal sanctions in accordance with the mandate of Article 35 of Law Number 7 of 2011 concerning Currency, with the sanction that anyone who intentionally destroys, cuts, destroys, and or changes the rupiah with the intention of degrading the honor of the rupiah as a symbol of the state, as well as buying or selling rupiah that has been damaged or changed, can be subject to a maximum imprisonment of five years and a maximum fine of IDR 1 billion.

Furthermore, Marlison explained the characteristics of mutilation money or rupiah money which was allegedly damaged on purpose, namely if the signs of physical damage to rupiah currency convinced Bank Indonesia of an alleged element of intent, for example there were pieces with sharp equipment or other equipment, the safety thread was completely or partially lost due to the damage, and or the amount of rupiah exchanged was relatively large with similar damage patterns, and there was a different serial number on the same sheet.

The damage to rupiah money was done on purpose if based on evidence through a laboratory and or court decision it was concluded or decided that the rupiah currency was intentionally damaged.

Bank Indonesia does not provide reimbursement for Unfit money (UTLE) in the form of rupiah currency damaged if according to BI the damage to rupiah currency is allegedly carried out on purpose, and also if it is confirmed that one side cannot be recognized for its authenticity.

In addition, BI has also issued guidelines for the public to carefully recognize the characteristics of the authenticity of paper rupiah currency in three ways, namely seeing, touching and seeing.

The public can see the main picture of each of the rupiah currency, and the nominal denomination. On the left side of the hero's image, there is a genuine safety thread with the number 100. On the lower left side, there is the BI logo with the ink changing color.

The community can also feel the money, which will feel rough on certain parts. On the right front side of the Garuda logo, there will be a blind code (blink code).

By looking at rupiah currency, people can see images of each other's contents (rectoverso). When viewed, there are watermarks and electrotypes.