This Is Bayu Setio Aribowo's Role, A Garuda Employee, A State-Owned Company Who Was Dragged By A Counterfeit Money Syndicate

Head Of Criminal Investigation Unit Of Tanah Abang Metro Police, Kompol Martua Malau/ Photo: Rizky Sulistio/ VOI

JAKARTA The name Bayu Setio Aribowo alias BY, an employee of a State-Owned Enterprise (BUMN), has surfaced in the disclosure of a syndicate of counterfeit money circulating which was revealed by the Tanah Abang Metro Police. He is suspected of being involved as one of the suppliers of counterfeit money circulated in the Jakarta area and its surroundings.

BY's involvement was revealed after investigators developed the case of the arrest of suspect Elyas alias E at the Pent House Hotel, Mangga Besar, West Jakarta. From room 108 where E was staying, the police confiscated counterfeit money worth IDR 451.7 million and 15 banknotes in 100 US dollars.

During the investigation, E admitted that he got the money from Bayu or BY. Based on this confession, the police immediately hunted down and arrested Bayu, who was still actively working in one of the state-owned national airlines, Garuda Indonesia.

"Yang pegawai Garuda itu atas nama Bayu alias BY," ungkap Kanit Reskrim Polsek Metro Tanah Abang, Kompol Martua Malau, Kamis, 10 April.

Not alone, Bayu was arrested along with another suspect named Babay Bahrum Kulum alias BBK. During the arrest, the police found Rp1.1 million in cash which was stored in the Toyota Innova car seat and confiscated a unit of money countering machine from the hands of the two.

During the follow-up examination, BY and BBK admitted that they received a supply of counterfeit money from a man with the initials AY (Haji Amir Yadi), who acted as a fund provider. Interestingly, AY is known to be a recidivist in a similar case.

This case is part of the disclosure of a large counterfeit money printing factory that was raided at Griya Melati 1 Housing, Bubulak Village, West Bogor, West Java. This raid is the result of further arrest of the initial suspect with the initials J at Tanah Abang Station.

From the location of the raid, the police arrested eight suspects who had different roles in this syndicate, including the main perpetrators of printing counterfeit money with the initials DSR and L, the owner of the house where the printing company took place. A number of evidences such as printers and printer machines were also secured.

Tanah Abang Metro Police Chief, Kompol Haris Akhmad Basuki, stated that the investigation is still ongoing and all suspects are currently undergoing intensive examination.

"The number of suspects is eight people. We confiscated thousands of counterfeit notes in Rp100 thousand denominations. The value cannot be said because counterfeit money does not have official value," he said.

This case adds to the long list of individuals' involvement in the economic criminal network. The police continue to explore the roles of each suspect, including BY, who is now in the spotlight because of his status as a BUMN employee.