Hundreds of fake graves found in Jakarta

JAKARTA — Jakarta’s Parks and Cemetery Agency has found hundreds of fake graves in two public cemeteries in the capital and promised to find more in other locations.

The agency’s head, Mr Muchlisin Djafar, said officials are still investigating why the cemeteries had the fake grave plots. Some reports say they are dug up to give the impression that the cemetery is full but would then be let to customers for an inflated price, or a bribe.

“To date, we’ve found a total of 230 fake graves. We will inspect all public cemeteries to find more,” Mr Djafar said in Jakarta on Tuesday (July 26).

“We found the fake graves in Karet Bivak and Kawi-Kawi cemeteries in Central Jakarta, both coveted locations for a burial. We will inspect more cemeteries on Friday,” Mr Djafar said.

According to Detik.com, a way to spot a fake grave is by looking at the gravestone.

“A fake one has a name with no date, and the name is written with a marker,” said Pondok Ranggon public cemetery head JS Siregar. JAKARTA GLOBE