Bogus doctor arrested when 'offering jobs'

JAKARTA (JP): Security guards at the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM) apprehended on Thursday a man posing as a doctor and offering fictitious jobs at the hospital to three young applicants.

The bogus doctor was identified as Muhajir Hidayat, 35, a resident of Cipinang area in East Jakarta.

He was taken to the security post at the hospital's intensive care unit shortly after he arrived there for an appointment with the three applicants -- Jelani, 23, Suryadi, 22 and Retniyenti, 21.

Jelani said he met Muhajir aboard a city bus from Grogol to Depok, while Suryadi and Retniyenti met him after they submitted job applications to a cooperative in Depok.

"He introduced himself as Novi Anggraini, a doctor at RSCM, and told me there was a vacancy at the hospital as an accounting staff," said Retniyenti.

Suryadi said he believed Muhajir when he was shown a white coat similar to that worn by physicians.

The three said Muhajir gave them application forms and asked for Rp 20,000 each to pay for 10 stamps.

"I started to become suspicious when I read in the form that I had to submit a passport. I also wondered why he insisted on buying the stamps for me and prevented me from buying them myself," Jelani said.

Muhajir later promised to meet the three at noon on Thursday in the intensive care unit's cafeteria. However, when they arrived at the given time, Muhajir was not there.

"We asked the security guards there whether the hospital had a job vacancy. They said no. When we asked them if they knew a doctor named Novi Anggraini, they shook their heads. The guards told us to inform them if the man arrived," Retniyenti said.

She said Jelani and Suryadi later walked around other parts of the hospital, including the morgue, and asked other workers about the doctor.

Retniyenti said that as soon as Muhajir arrived, she informed the guards, who immediately grabbed him and took him to the security post.

"(Muhajir) said we were here to settle a family problem," she said.

Police officers, who questioned him at the security post, said Muhajir gave contradicting information on his background and identity.

"I want to find jobs for the three at RSCM. I knew a doctor who used to work here. His name is doctor Daniel," he said. He also said he had a miserable life with his wife in Depok.

Police confiscated a bag from Muhajir containing doctors' white coats, a mask, a Tahapan savings account book from Bank Central Asia, a vehicle ownership document and a credit card.

He was later taken to Senen police station for further questioning. (ivy)