JAKARTA – Indonesian police have begun questioning three men over a case involving counterfeit Singapore $10,000 bills brought into the republic and used at a casino.
The suspects were identified in a police case file seen by The Straits Times as HD, 62, a member of a Banten-based jawara organisation – a traditional martial arts silat group providing security services – alongside businessman AN, 56, and employee EAK, 43.
South Tangerang police chief Boy Jumalolo did not reply to ST’s queries for verification and further details on Sept 28.
The investigation follows the case of an Indonesian businessman identified only as Steven, who allegedly used 34 counterfeit $10,000 notes over three visits to the Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) casino in June. The notes were accepted and exchanged for casino chips before they were found to be fake.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has been in contact with its Indonesian counterparts over the case.
Boy told ST earlier in September that his officers met SPF representatives, including the SPF attache in Jakarta, via online conferencing platform Zoom on Sept 14. At that meeting, Indonesian investigators asked the SPF for a letter confirming that the 34 seized notes, dated 1973, were counterfeit.
He said then that his investigators had so far received only a copy of the seizure receipt, which described the notes as “believed to be non-genuine”.
An SPF spokesperson confirmed that a report had been lodged and said investigations were ongoing.
Lawyer defends Indonesian businessman
Steven’s Jakarta-based lawyer, Yosia Ginting, told ST on Sept 17 that his client was a victim of fraud and did not know the notes were counterfeit. He said Steven had received them as payment for a shophouse he was selling in South Tangerang, a satellite town of Jakarta.
Read Full Article At Source
