Police target 19 more 'illegal' institutes<\/p>\n
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
After sealing off the Institut Manajemen Global Indonesia (IMGI)
\nfor allegedly selling fake academic titles, the National Police
\nsaid on Tuesday they were investigating 19 additional educational
\ninstitutions.<\/p>\n
National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Saud Usman Nasution said
\nthe 19 institutions were reportedly operating in Jakarta without
\nlicenses from the Directorate General of Higher Education at the
\nMinistry of National Education.<\/p>\n
The institutes include the International University Transfer
\nProgram, the International Agyata Foundation, the American
\nManagement University, the American International Institute of
\nManagement and Technology, the Washington International
\nUniversity, San Pedro College of Business Administration and
\nKennedy Western University.<\/p>\n
\"Their operations are similar to that of IMGI, which offered
\nfake diplomas to the public for small amounts of money,\" Saud
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said the names of the 19 institutions had been obtained
\nfrom the Ministry of Education.<\/p>\n
The police have yet to make any arrests and are still
\ngathering evidence against the institutes.<\/p>\n
IMGI was reportedly working with American World University,
\nNorthern California Global University, Jakarta International
\nManagement Studies and Senior University to issue allegedly
\nunauthorized diplomas, ranging from bachelor's degrees to
\ndoctorates.<\/p>\n
As the investigation proceeded into IMGI, its graduates began
\nto return their fictitious diplomas to the police.<\/p>\n
Another National Police spokesman, Brig. Gen. Soenarko, said
\nhis office received a master's and a PhD issued by IMGI in May
\n2001.<\/p>\n
The academic certificates were turned in by a graduate
\nidentified only by the initials SW.<\/p>\n
\"We promise that graduates who willingly return their
\ncertificates will face a less harsh punishment,\" Soenarko said.<\/p>\n
He said the IMGI database showed that more than 100 PhDs and
\napproximately 400 masters of science were issued by the
\ninstitute.<\/p>\n
To receive the degrees, it is alleged people simply had to pay
\nbetween Rp 1.5 million (US$150) and Rp 5 million.<\/p>\n
Several top government officials, including a former vice
\npresident and former Cabinet ministers, along with Muslim clerics
\nand a number of retired senior police officers, are among the
\nsome 5,000 graduates of IMGI.<\/p>\n
If these graduates are found to have used their academic
\ntitles from the unregistered educational institute, they could
\nface up to five years in jail or a maximum fine of Rp 500 million
\n(US$50,500), according to the National Education Law.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-target-19-more-illegal-institutes-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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