From Doctor Tirta's Upload, The Police Arrested 3 Perpetrators Of Forgery Of PCR Swab Results

Illustration - A person is taking a swab (Unsplash) test

JAKARTA - Polda Metro Jaya arrested three people who are members of a syndicate of forgery of the PCR COVID-19 swab test results who sold their services on social media.

Head of Public Relations of Polda Metro Jaya Kombes Yusri Yunus said that the three people arrested for selling fake swab statements were MHA (21), EAD (22), and MAIS (21).

"This is his mode of falsifying data using PT BF data. Then he can pass to go to Bali by falsifying swab evidence," Yusri told reporters, Thursday, January 7.

The three suspects were arrested in different locations. MHA was arrested in Bandung, EAD in Bali and MAIS in Jakarta.

Based on the investigation, the forgery of this letter was carried out for the first time when the suspects were going to Bali. At that time, they were constrained by a PCR swab certificate as a condition for their departure.

So, they got an offer for PCR swab letter services without a test through their friends in Bali. After getting the pdf document, the three of them tried to change it by entering their identities.

"The person concerned tried to enter the airport and escaped and could go to Bali," he added.

With that success, the suspects tried to take advantage of it. The EAD suspect then promoted the fake PCR swab service on social media accounts.

"Then when MAIS arrived in Bali via chat with EAD (the second suspect) to offer this PCR swab counterfeiting business, EAD responded. EAD also invited MFA. EAD made a promotion on his Instagram account," he explained.

"The price set for the PCR for fake letters is Rp.650 thousand. Even though at the airport it is around Rp. 900 thousand. Two people have transferred, Rp.650 thousand, multiplied by two," he continued.

The upload was the beginning of their arrest. Because the post was known to the influencer, doctor Tirta Mandira Hudhi, which then went viral on social media. In fact, PT Bumame Pharmacy, which did not receive their PCR test result letter, was faked to report it to the police.

Currently, the suspects have been arrested. In this case, they were charged with Article 32 in conjunction with Article 48 of the ITE Law with a maximum threat of 10 years in prison, and Article 35 in conjunction with Article 51 paragraph 1 of the ITE Law with the threat of 12 years in prison and Article 263 of the Criminal Code.