Asking Rp600 Thousand To Head Of Riau Health Office To Buy Cellphones, Fake Journalist Claims To Be MNC TV Editor Arrested By Pekanbaru Police

Interrogation of suspected fake journalists in Pekanbaru. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Pekanbaru Police officers arrested Al, a man who is a fake journalist, after trying to blackmail the Acting Head of the Riau Province Health Service (Dinkes) Masrul Kasmy on Thursday, March 24.

Head of the Pekanbaru Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Kompol Andrie Setiawan, said his party was previously contacted by representatives from the Riau Provincial Health Office regarding the extortion effort.

"Armed with sufficient evidence, we have secured the suspect for further investigation," Andrie said, quoted by Antara, Sunday, March 27.

Previously, this perpetrator came to meet the Acting Head of Riau Health Office armed with a press identification card showing his position at MNC TV as an editor.

Then he offered to cooperate with Masrul Kasmy, but in the end he asked for Rp600 thousand in additional money to buy a cellphone.

In addition, it turns out that previously the perpetrators also tried to come to a number of other government agencies in Pekanbaru City, but were unable to meet the authorized officials.

"From the results of the interrogation, the perpetrator previously confessed to other agencies, but to no avail. Not only in Riau, but also in North Sumatra. We are still investigating," he said.

Andire assessed that the cooperative actors had followed the reporting and inspection flow by officers, so that the Pekanbaru Police could immediately follow up.

After the Riau Health Office confirmed Al's identity to the television station's Riau bureau, the perpetrator was immediately taken to the Pekanbaru Police because the company did not accept being lied to.

From the perpetrators, a press ID with his name as production editor was secured and a backpack he was carrying.

For his actions, Al was charged with Article 263 paragraphs (1) and (2) of the Criminal Code with a maximum penalty of six years in prison.

"We are also investigating Article 378 regarding fraud. We are still investigating whether there are other victims," said Andrie.

From this case, Andrie appealed to officials if there were individuals or parties claiming to be journalists and trying to ask for money, they should not be served. "If there is an attempt at extortion, immediately contact the police," he said.