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CIA Declassified: Smuggling of Counterfeit Currency from Malaya to Sumatra



1. A Chinese, who was a priest in a Buddhist temple at Bindjei before the war,1 planned to bring Indonesian counterfeit rupiah notes packed in biscuit tins from Malaya to Sumatra during September 1951.2 This priest allegedly is married to a Siamese princess.3 However, these plans may have been changed because of the raiding of several Chinese temples in Singapore by British authorities in August or September 1951 in an unsuccessful attempt to find the currency and the priest.

2. The counterfeit notes are denominations of R 100 or above. British authorities in Malaya have acquired one of the notes. It is described is so expert in workmanship that it cannot be distinguished from legitimate Indonesian currency except by serial number.4

3. The briefcases and military documents of Angkatan Darat Republik Indonesia (ADRI) personnel visiting Malaya may now be utilized for transporting the counterfeit notes. The authorities in Malaya are keeping close check on all ADRI personnel coming into Malaya from Sumatra. Major Maruarar Tobing, formerly head of Military Intelligence in the ADRI North Sumatra Command, 5 is suspected of being involved in counterfeit money negotiations. Tobing visited Singapore in early August 1951.


1. Comment. This man is believed to be KO Som Thian (KAO San-t'ien, who smuggled counterfeit money into Sumatra in March 1949. In July 1950. a Medan Chinese was informed by contacts in Johore that the priest was either the key man or one of the key men behind the Chinese Communists in Medan.

2. Comment. Chinese Communists intended to bring a huge sum of counterfeit money from Malaya to Sumatra within 6 months. This currency was to be transported to Belawan on boats commonly used by the Communists and packed in biscuit tins.

3. Comment. It is doubtful that this man is an authentic Buddhist priest if he is married. The Buddhist priesthood, like the Catholic, is required to remain celibate. The only exception to this rule is among certain Japanese sects.

4. Comment. If the notes are successfully smuggled into Sumatra, they will be distributed in the smaller towns at some distance from Medan to permit their disposal before the false serial numbers are detected by the Medan banks.

5. Comment. Tobing was transferred from ADRI intelligence because he had accepted money from various Chinese in Sumatra East Coast. In October 1951 he was made Chief of the Perwira Menengah Territorium (Civil Relations Section of the ADRI) in Medan. E. Pondaag's Civil Staff of the ADRI North Sumatra Command is now under Major Tobing.






Source: https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP82-00457R009500520004-0.pdf

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