An Indonesian national was sentenced to three years in prison by the Sessions Court today for possessing counterfeit Malaysian currency totalling RM138,920.
Judge Musli Ab Hamid handed down the sentence against Hendera, 32, after he pleaded guilty to an offence under Section 489C of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years. The court ordered the sentence to run from the date of his arrest, Oct 8, and directed that he be referred to the Immigration Department after completing his term.
The offence occurred at Jalan Serian–Tebedu around 4.45pm on Oct 8.
According to case facts, police stopped two men on a motorcycle acting suspiciously near the Malaysia–Indonesia border. Both men revealed they were meeting a friend—later identified as Hendera—who was waiting in a forested area nearby.
They led officers to the location, where police found Hendera holding a dark blue and red bag. A search uncovered a large quantity of counterfeit banknotes in various denominations.
Police seized:
- 1,200 fake RM100 notes
- 240 fake RM50 notes
- 296 fake RM20 notes
- 100 fake RM10 notes
Authorities also confiscated two Indonesian passports, three mobile phones with SIM cards, a motorcycle, and the bag in Hendera’s possession.
One accomplice, Wawan Riduanto, 31, was previously sentenced to two years in jail on Oct 15, while another, Abang Mohammad Firdaus Abang Abdul Malek, 29, was granted RM20,000 bail. An Indonesian woman, Emi Diansari, 37, was also sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.
During mitigation, Hendera appealed for leniency, saying he is married with three children aged 15, 10, and 2, and lives in Balai Karangan, West Kalimantan.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Asmawi Nur Haqim Mokhtar urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, stressing the importance of safeguarding public confidence in the national currency and preventing economic harm.
Hendera was unrepresented.
