Dili, 09 March 2026 (Média Democracia) – Timor Leste National Police (PNTL) is continuing the investigation process into counterfeit money circulating in Timor Leste.
Interim spokesperson for Timor Leste National Police (PNTL), Assistant Police Superintendent Mouzinho T. Correia, said the Central Bank of Timor Leste (BCTL) has the competence to provide information on the origin of the counterfeit money.
“Counterfeit Money with two coins, 200 centavos identified by the Central Bank of Timor Leste BCTL, and handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (DSIK) of the Timor Leste National Police (PNTL) have been examined and confirmed as fake. The examination method is quite technical. We want to create a profile for counterfeit and original money, so there are a few parameters we use to identify if it’s fake or original, there are elements you can see with the naked eye, especially the prints, the surfaces, aren’t the same as counterfeit money. We have a physical profile and parameters to check if the money is fake or not, which we’ll compare with the data.” said the interim spokesperson for Timor Leste National Police.
He also added that the investigation is ongoing and it’s not yet possible to say whether the counterfeit money is produced locally or abroad. He said the counterfeit money isn’t made by ordinary people, but rather by individuals with the capacity and resources.
“The process is still ongoing, we can’t say yet if it’s local or foreign, this can’t be done by ordinary people, but by people with sufficient resources, the process is still ongoing, it’s clear that this isn’t done by ordinary people, but by individuals with capacity and resources. The investigation is in several phases, PNTL as the criminal police organ starts with the initial/preliminary process, collecting information, facts, and evidence, submitting to the Public Ministry, then the Public Ministry takes over the entire process depending on the time, and delegates back to PNTL and PSIK.” said Police Superintendent Assistant Mouzinho T. Correa to journalists at the Interior Ministry press conference.
He added that regarding the counterfeit money, it’s a sensitive matter, not a joke, so the number of perpetrators, whoever is involved, shouldn’t be revealed here because releasing all the information could risk the investigation process.
Reporting : Nélia
Photo : Nélia