Rp. 120 Million Basic Food Scams In Temanggung Use COD Mode, The Owner Rents A Shop And Use Fictitious Addresses

2 perpetrators of fraud and embezzlement of purchasing basic goods (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Temanggung Police, Central Java succeeded in securing two perpetrators of fraud and embezzlement of basic necessities. The two are S (37), a resident of Kayugiyang Village, and SPL (29), a resident of Kretek, Wonosobo Regency.

"The two suspects were arrested on suspicion of being involved in fraud and embezzlement of basic food items worth Rp. 120 million belonging to HDA (27) residents of Banjarsari, Surakarta City," said Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of the Temanggung Police, Police Commissioner Adjutant Setyo Hermawan in Temanggung, as reported by Antara, Monday, March 23.

The mode used by the perpetrator is cash on delivery (COD). The incident took place in early March this year at a shophouse, Parakan Kauman, Parakan District, Temanggung Regency.

The two actors who are close friends rent a shop for 1 day. SPL acted as the shopkeeper and S was tasked with ordering the groceries online to victims in Surakarta.

"The suspect ordered via online to be sent to Temanggung and paid in COD," he said. A number of items ordered, including rice, cooking oil, sugar, and cigarettes, are delivered by car to Temanggung.

When they arrived at their destination, he said, some of the items ordered were asked to be unloaded, while the rest by the suspect was asked to be sent to a different place.

"It turned out that the place was fictitious or not there, then the driver returned to the initial drop-off location but the goods were not there and was taken away," he said. For this incident, he said, the driver reported to the shipper, then continued the report to the Temanggung Police.

The two suspects were arrested at their respective homes in Wonosobo. Several pieces of evidence were confiscated, including two sacks of sugar, eight cartons of cooking oil, and several cigarettes.

"So, they share the task, the brain is SPL who is a recidivist of the same case in Banjarnegara. Both have their respective roles, including ordering and selling goods," he said.

The suspects are charged under Article 372 and/or Article 378 of the Criminal Code with a maximum imprisonment of 4 years. Temanggung Police Chief, Police Grand Commissioner Adjutant Benny Setyowadi, appealed to the public to be more careful in accepting orders for goods online.

"The public must be careful when buying and selling transactions. Check and check again, be sure before sending it," he said.