Headline: False Currency Discovery in Makassar: Rp 745 Trillion in Fake Bonds and Deposits
Subheadline: Bank Indonesia clarifies: It’s not fake money, but fake government bonds and deposits totaling Rp 745 trillion found in UIN Makassar.
Meta Description: Bank Indonesia clarifies massive find in Makassar is not fake money but fake bonds and deposits worth Rp 745 trillion. Uang palsu found totals Rp 446 million.
Article:
In a significant development, Bank Indonesia (BI) has clarified that the recently discovered counterfeit items in a case involving UIN Makassar are not fake money, but rather fake government bonds (Surat Berharga Negara or SBN) and Bank Indonesia (BI) deposits, totaling a staggering Rp 745 trillion. This correction aims to dispel misinformation circulating among the public.
BI’s Executive Director for Currency Management, Marlison Hakim, stated, "The Rp 745 trillion figure refers to fake SBN bonds and BI deposits, not fake money, as some have mistakenly understood." He emphasized that the fake currency discovered in the case amounts to Rp 446 million, as per police reports.
In more detail, the police have confirmed findings of fake Rp 100,000 notes, with 4,906 complete notes and 972 half-cut notes recovered. In addition, fake SBN bonds worth Rp 700 trillion and BI deposits totalling Rp 45 trillion were also seized.
Investigations into the counterfeiting activities reveal that they began in May 2024, with plans for the operation dating back to 2010. However, Marlison clarified that the counterfeiting did not commence in 2010 but started more recently.
The machinery and equipment used for the counterfeiting operation were identified as ordinary printing and offset paper machines, not specialized currency printing equipment. Notably, a new machine of Chinese origin, often displayed in various media, was not used in the counterfeiting process. Instead, an old silk-screen printing machine was employed to produce the fake currency.
Despite the low quality of the fake currency, BI urges the public to remain vigilant. If you come across suspected counterfeit money during transactions, promptly bring it to a nearby bank, police station, or contact BI for verification.
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