TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Bank Indonesia (BI) communications department director Peter Jacobs said money changers that are unregistered and proven to be deceitful will be sanctioned to close down their business. This also applies to money changers at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport.
"Money changing with lower rates is a fraud. The heaviest sanction from BI is to close down [their business]," Peter said to Tempo last night.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Police conducted a sudden inspection at a special terminal for Indonesian migrant workers (TKI) in Soekarno-Hatta Airport Friday evening until Saturday morning. The team discovered the indication of extortion by forcing the TKIs to exchange their money at a special money changer. The rate set by the money changer was lower than the one set on the market mechanism.
He suspected the swindlers purposely forced the TKIs to change their money because they generally did not understand about rates. "If there was a fraud and force, this is also the police's jurisdiction, but BI has to be involved to monitor them," Peter said.
In order to avoid fraudulent, Peter urged the public to go to the official money changers. Based on BI Regulation Number 2/22/PBI/2010, official non-bank money changers are signed with a permit logo that says "Registered money changer" and a business permit certificate.
PUTRI ADITYOWATI
