Kotim Police Arrests 3 Falsification Of COVID-19 Rapid Test Results

Press conference on falsification of COVID-19 detection rapid test results, in Sampit, Central Kalimantan, Monday, January 25, (Norjani / Antara)

JAKARTA - The Kotawaringin Timur Police (Kotim), Central Kalimantan, arrested three friends, namely a man with the initials MM, MAK and SY, for allegedly falsifying the results of the rapid test results for the detection of COVID-19.

"Their mode is to produce fake rapid test results. After we confirmed to the clinic there was a difference. Finally, we secured the three suspects and proceeded with the law," said Chief of Police AKBP Abdoel Harris Jakin in Sampit, as reported by Antara, Tuesday, January 26.

Jakin, accompanied by the Deputy Chief of Police, Kompol Abdul Aziz Septiadi and the Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit AKP Zaldy Kurniawan showed the three suspects along with a number of evidence of the case.

The incident was revealed on Sunday, January 24, at 10.00 WIB at Sampit Haji Asan Airport. At that time, officers from the Sampit Port Health Office and airport security informed that two prospective passengers were leaving for Surabaya but used an unusual quick check result letter.

The two prospective passengers are MM and his wife. When examined, the first sheet of the certificate of the rapid test results is written with the results of the antigen examination, while the attachment shows the antibody examination.

Upon this suspicion, the two prospective passengers were also questioned. After being confirmed at the clinic whose name was used in the certificate, it was found that the name on the registration number registered at the clinic was different from the letter the couple brought.

The clerk finally concluded that the letters brought by the two prospective passengers were invalid or fake. The findings were then reported and the case was handled by the Kotawaringin Timur Police.

MM was examined intensively, while his wife proved not to know the husband's actions. As a result of the development, investigators arrested two men, namely MAK and SY.

The three suspects, namely MM, MAK and SY, admitted that they made the fake letters of the COVID-19 detection rapid test results together by sharing roles. Some edited the scans, made fake stamps and copied the clinic's signature.

It was also discovered that MM and MAK had made a similar forgery to go by plane to Surabaya and were not caught. MM wanted to repeat that experience, but this time the action was exposed.

"They made it themselves for their own use. The results of our examination showed no evidence of whether they had bought and sold fake letters, but it did not rule out the possibility because the investigation was still ongoing. They argued that they did not want to be complicated and did not want to lose money and ended up writing their own letters," said Jakin.

The three suspects were charged under Article 263 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) to 1, 56 of the Criminal Code with the threat of a sentence of six years in prison and / or Article 268 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1), 56 of the Criminal Code with a threat of four years jail.

Meanwhile, regarding a similar case previously reported by the Indonesian Red Cross in East Kotawaringin Regency, Jakin said that he was currently still under investigation because the perpetrator had already fled when the case was reported.

"People who will travel by land, sea or air, never use invalid or fake rapid results. This is endangering ourselves and others around us. In addition, the threat of punishment is also quite severe," said Jakin.

Meanwhile, the three suspects admitted to making the fake letter with a capital of IDR 50,000 to make stamps and stamp pads, while the laptop and printer used the property of one of them.