Deputy Director of Special Criminal Investigation of the Polda Metro Jaya, AKBP Martuasah Hermindo Tobing, provides a press statement regarding the case of a shaman who claimed to be able to duplicate money.

progresifjaya.co.id, JAKARTA – A quack who claimed to be able to duplicate money was arrested by the Operational Team of the Sub-Directorate II of Ekbank (Banking Economy)of the Polda Metro Jaya ‘s Special Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimsus). The quack, Mahfud alias MP (39), was apprehended in a hotel room in Kemang, Bogor Regency, West Java, on Monday, March 30, 2026.

Along with the arrest, a wad of counterfeit Rp100.000 bills worth Rp620 million were also seized, stored in a box resembling a chest and cardboard. Several pieces of equipment suspected of being used to produce counterfeit money, such as a printer, ink, a paper cutter, A4 paper, and other equipment related to the counterfeit money-making process, were also confiscated.

In his statement to the media, the Deputy Director of Special Criminal Investigation at the Polda Metro Jaya, AKBP Martuasah Hermindo Tobing stated, that the suspect’s fraudulent operation involved copying genuine Rp100.000 bills using an Epson printer and a master printer.

The suspect then used cardboard that had been cut to resemble real money. This money was then used in a fraudulent money-duplicating scheme.

“The suspect made copies using cardboard. The copies were then cut using a Joyko-brand cutting tool, scissors, and a cutter to resemble real money. The plan was to distribute the counterfeit copies to the public as if they were money-duplicating or a shaman’s practice,” said AKBP Martuasah on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

Evidence: Thousands of counterfeit Rp100.000 notes stored in a chest during the arrest of the shaman who claimed to be able to duplicate money.

He also explained in detail that the evidence recovered from the suspect’s arrest included 12.191 counterfeit Rp100.000 bills. The thousands of counterfeit money were divided into 64 double-sided printed notes, plus 50 sheets, for a total of 6.450 Rp100.000 notes. Then there were 57 single-sided printed notes and 41 sheets, for a total of 5.741 Rp100.000 notes.

“There were also 65 uncut Rp100.000 notes,” he explained.

Separately, the Head of Sub-Directorate II of the Ekbank of the Polda Metro Jaya, AKBP Robby Syahfery stated, that Mahfud, also known as MP, has been named a suspect. He is being charged under Article 374 of the Criminal Code and/or Article 375 in conjunction with Article 20 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

He also emphasized, that his team is continuing to investigate the possibility of other parties being involved. This is being done by investigating the perpetrator’s role and the distribution channels of the counterfeit money.

“We are currently investigating the counterfeit money syndicate, including its planners and distribution network,” said AKBP Robby. (Bembo)