East Java Police Unravel Rp3.8 Billion Counterfeit Money Circulation

Release of counterfeit money cases at the East Java Police Headquarters/DOK Police

SURABAYA - Circulation of counterfeit money (upal) in Rp100,000 denominations with a nominal value of Rp3.8 billion in East Java was revealed. The search for counterfeit money was carried out by the Banyuwangi Police together with the Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimsus) of the East Java Police.

"There are five suspects in this case. And they come from several provinces, but the upal operation is carried out in East Java," said Head of Public Relations of the East Java Police Kombes Gatot Repli Handoko at the East Java Police Headquarters, Surabaya, Thursday, October 7.

The five suspects arrested were ASP (63) a resident of Sugian Hamlet, Sugian Village, Lombok Regency, AAP alias Gus Ali (44) a resident of Kepel Hamlet, Kepel Village, Ngetos District, Nganjuk Regency, AUW (57) a resident of Mojosari Hamlet, Mojotengah Village, Bareng District, Jombang Regency.

Then AS (37) a resident of Jemblok Hamlet, Sumo Village, Sumobito District, Jombang Regency, and JS (56) a resident of Jalan Mulawarman, Prince Village, Simpang Empat District, Tanah Bumbu Regency, South Kalimantan.

According to Gatot, the arrest of the five suspects began with the arrest of ASP at the rest area of the Kalibaru gas station, Krajan Tegal Pakis Hamlet, Kalibaru Wetan Village, Kalibaru District, Banyuwangi.

"This disclosure follows information from the public that there is a Rp100 thousand denomination that was circulated at the gas station," he said.

Gatot explained that the suspects made the counterfeit money themselves, using a machine that was prepared. The counterfeit money was produced in Bojonegoro, which was circulated in East Java, such as Banyuwangi and Mojokerto.

There are also suspects in charge of circulating the counterfeit money, namely ASP alias Pak So, AAP alias Gus Ali, and AUW alias Gus Mad. "Meanwhile, the financier is suspect AS, who employs suspect JS as a money maker," he said.

Meanwhile, Banyuwangi Police Chief, AKBP Nasrun Pasaribu, said that this was the beginning of the disclosure of the fake money dealer network.

Where after receiving information from the public, the Resmob Team from the Banyuwangi Police Sat Reskrim tried to conduct a search, and arrested the suspect ASP alias Pak So, at the Kalibaru gas station rest area, Banyuwangi on September 16, 2021.

"The evidence that was secured was 71 pieces of counterfeit Rp100 thousand denominations. From the confession of suspect ASP, that he got the money from suspect AAP who came from Nganjuk," said Nasrun.

On September 28, 2021, officers arrested another suspect, AAP. During a search of his home, officers found two backpacks containing counterfeit money with a nominal value of Rp. 1 million.

"The confession of the suspect AAP, that he got the upal from another suspect, namely, AUW in Mojokerto," he said.

Furthermore, on September 29, 2021, the police arrested the suspect AUW and secured evidence of 300 counterfeit notes with a nominal value of 30 million. Police obtained information again, the fake money was obtained from someone with the initials AS.

"Finally, the team managed to arrest two other suspects, namely AS and JS," he said.

The perpetrators claimed to have carried out the action for 10 months. Nasrun confirmed that his party would continue to investigate the case.

The five suspects are subject to Article 36 Paragraph (2) Juncto Article 26 Paragraph (2) or Article 36 Paragraph (3) Juncto Article 26 Paragraph (3) Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 7 of 2011, concerning currency, with a penalty of 10 years in prison or a fine. IDR 10 billion.