TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of the Bank Indonesia or BI Money Management Department, Marlison Hakim, said there was no room for BI employees to be involved in the Rp22 billion counterfeit case uncovered by the Metro Jaya police department. Investigation results show that the counterfeit money would be swapped with the real money which Bank Indonesia would destroy or dispose of.

"There is no room for BI employees to be involved in cases like this considering our money-destroying operational standards,” Marlinson told Tempo on Sunday, June 23, 2024.

Marlison explained that Bank Indonesia’s money-destroying procedure is quite strict in an area with limited access and tight security. The procedure is carried out by a supervised group and monitored through an electronic security system.

According to him, the restricted area can be accessed only by interested parties who are not allowed to bring in and out Rupiah or electronic devices. Despite the fact BI employees are not likely to be involved in the case, Bank Indonesia is committed to cooperating with the police in conducting the investigation.

In this case, Marlinson said, BI joined Polda Metro police in explaining the case of counterfeit money and carried out testing to prove the counterfeit money was indeed fake.

The police previously arrested four suspects in the counterfeit money case in Srengseng Raya, West Jakarta, on Saturday, June 15, 2024. The four suspects were M, FF, YS and MDCF.

During the arrest, the police confiscated several pieces of evidence, namely 220,000 pieces of counterfeit money in the Rp100,000 denomination or worth Rp22 billion, 180 pieces of uncut counterfeit money, and a money-cutting machine.

The suspects will be subject to Article 244 of the Criminal Code with a maximum of 15 (fifteen) years in prison, Article 245 of the Criminal Code with a maximum of 15 (fifteen) years in prison, Article 55 of the Criminal Code, and Article 56 of the Criminal Code.

ANNISA FEBIOLA

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