Circulating Counterfeit Money, Supardi, A Resident Of Rokan Hulu, Was Sentenced To 4 Years In Prison

Illustration of court verdicts (ANTARA)

The Medan District Court (PN) panel of judges sentenced Supardi (52), a resident of Rokan Hilir Regency, Riau, after being found guilty of circulating counterfeit Rp100 thousand denominations.

"Sentenced the defendant Supardi to four years in prison," said Chief Judge Lenny Megawaty Napitupulu in a trial held quoted by ANTARA, Friday, December 20.

In addition to the prison sentence, the defendant is also required to pay a fine of Rp. 1 billion. If the fine is not paid, it will be replaced with imprisonment for three months.

This verdict is lighter than the demands of the Public Prosecutor (JPU) of the Belawan District Attorney, Serli Dwi Warmi, who previously asked the panel of judges to sentence him to five years in prison and a fine of Rp. 1 billion with a subsidiary of six months in prison.

The judge gave the defendant and prosecutor seven days to state their position whether to accept the verdict or file an appeal.

During the trial, it was revealed that the case of the circulation of counterfeit money began on February 20, when the police investigated the activities of the defendant Supardi and a man named Mickey (DPO). Mickey is known to have offered counterfeit money to the defendant.

According to the prosecutor's indictment, the defendant bought counterfeit money in an uncut condition to get a cheaper price. Supardi then modified the money by cutting and adding gold threads and glue to make it look like real money.

After being modified, Supardi circulated the counterfeit money through his Facebook social media account. From the police investigation, it was discovered that Supardi had circulated large amounts of counterfeit money whose value was estimated at hundreds of millions of rupiah.

The police confiscated evidence in the form of 700 modified counterfeit notes of Rp100 thousand, as well as equipment used to falsify money.

"The defendant's actions violated Article 36 paragraph (3) of Law Number 7 of 2011 concerning Currency," said Public Prosecutor Serli.

This verdict is expected to provide a deterrent effect for the perpetrators and prevent the circulation of counterfeit money in the community.