Badminton Coach In Garut Involved In The Distribution Of False Money, Already Printed With A Value Of IDR 2.3 Billion

The police showed evidence in the case of the disclosure of counterfeit money at the Garut Police Headquarters, West Java, Sunday (20/11/2022). (ANTARA)

Garut Police, West Java, succeeded in uncovering a syndicate of counterfeit rupiah currency counterfeit money manufacturing by arresting two perpetrators along with evidence of printing machines and counterfeit money produced. "This suspect made rupiah denominations and there was also other state money depending on orders," said Garut Police Chief AKBP Wirdhanto Hadicaksono when releasing the disclosure of the counterfeit money case at the Garut Police Headquarters, Antara, Sunday, November 20. The disclosure of the syndicate making counterfeit money began with public reports regarding counterfeit money in the Karangpawitan District, Garut Regency, which was subsequently investigated by the police. The police finally arrested one suspect with the initials A (47) who was a badminton coach on a daily basis. Then A informed that the counterfeit money was obtained from another perpetrator with the initials D (50), a Sablon worker in Bandung. "From suspect A, he was searched, there was evidence of a large box with a sum of one hundred thousand and 23 bundles and confiscated sharp weapons such as a keris," said the Police Chief. He conveyed that from the other suspects, evidence was secured in the form of sablon equipment, printing machines, yellow coins, and other raw materials for making counterfeit money. In addition, the suspect also made a paper ribbon with the value of the money figure to stubborn rupiah counterfeit money and foreign currencies, such as Canada and Australia. "Not only rupiah currency, but also making ribbons for bundles of money and also money from other countries, Canada, Australia, and the bands of several banks in Indonesia," he said. From the examination, the suspect admitted that he had carried out the action for one year and it was suspected that the money was used for fraud in the mode of multiplying money. Regarding the counterfeit money that has been distributed to the public, the Police Chief said his staff was still investigating the extent to which the money was used by the suspect. Meanwhile, foreign counterfeit money, added the Police Chief, was made if there was an order. The target is a possible place to exchange foreign money. "We are still investigating the case, while (making) is still domestic," he said. The counterfeit money that the suspect has bought up is quite a lot and if it is assumed that the original money is worth Rp. 2.3 billion. If it is totaled with counterfeit money and also equipment machines, it could be worth more than Rp. 3 billion. The two suspects are now being held at the Garut Police Headquarters for further investigation and charged with Article 244 and/or Article 245 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 26 paragraph 3 of Law Number 7 of 2011 concerning Currency with the threat of life imprisonment and a fine of Rp. 100 billion. "For anyone who makes a currency or distributes counterfeit rupiah, imitating state banknotes with the intention of distributing them is a violation with a life sentence and a fine of Rp. 100 billion," said the Police Chief.