The daily from Santiago, “La Cuarta” has reported a peculiar dilemma of the Chilean Police. Six men were caught for forging the bank notes of Chile’s neighbour, Argentina. Since smaller currency is easier to palm off, these men had forged notes of small denominations. What the forgers had not reckoned with is Argentina’s current galloping inflation, which has been rapidly reducing the value of the peso, Argentina’s currency. By the time the police prepared the case and went to the court, it was clear that the forged notes in question were useless: the forgers had actually spent more on the special paper and the ink than the worth of the notes. Thus there has been no personal benefit to the forgers, and they will probably receive a lenient treatment from the court on this score!
© smsingru June 2002