Itanagar: A district and sessions court in Yupia has sentenced a woman to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment for counterfeiting Rs 500 currency notes.The case dates back to January 18, 2022, when a police team led by inspector Phassang Simi raided Jomoh’s rented accommodation at Abotani Colony following information related to suspected narcotics. A subsequent search of another accommodation linked to Jomoh led to the recovery of a colour printer, ink, one genuine Rs 500 note, 34 counterfeit Rs 500 notes, 16 A4 sheets, a scale and scissors.District and sessions judge Hirendra Kashyap convicted Yayi Lendo Jomoh under Sections 489A and 489C of the IPC for counterfeiting currency and possessing forged notes. The judgement and sentencing order were passed on August 27. Jomoh’s nephew and co-accused, Hogli Ori, was acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence.Investigators found that 25 counterfeit notes carried the same serial number as the genuine note, while nine others bore another identical serial number. The case was later investigated by sub-inspector K Tacha.Rejecting the defence argument that the notes had not undergone forensic examination, the court observed that currency notes are individually numbered and that multiple notes, bearing identical serial numbers, were sufficient to establish that they were copies.During her examination, Jomoh admitted printing the notes and purchasing the printer but claimed they were meant for “decoration” in her sitting room and had never been passed off as genuine currency.
