Eight arrested for selling diplomas

Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The National Police arrested eight suspects on Thursday for illegally selling university degrees issued by an unauthorized and unlicensed management institute located in Jakarta.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Soenarko told reporters that the institute had sold around 5,000 diplomas since 2003 without any need for the recipients to undergo an academic process.

He said that the institute was called the Institut Manajemen Global Indonesia (MGTI), located on Jl. Rasuna Said, Kuningan, South Jakarta.

"These people offered degrees at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels to people whom they knew, and if they were interested, then they would only have to pay a couple of million and then get the diploma instantly," Soenarko said.

He explained that the institute was not registered with the Ministry of National Education.

He said that the price for one diploma ranged between Rp 1.5 million (US$157) and Rp 5 million if it was purchased at the institute's main office in Kuningan, but the price could be much higher at between Rp 10 million and Rp 25 million if purchased at the institute's branch office in the Ceger area of East Jakarta.

"We have also confiscated six computers, documents, invitations to a graduation ceremony to be held on Aug. 28 of this year, gowns, and diploma certificates from both offices," Soenarko said.

An American citizen named Harris Robert, who was the institute's "program director", is among the eight people arrested.

The seven others are Mardiana (president director of the institute), Udin Arsyad (head of marketing), and institute staff members Lilik Purwanti, Sri Purnomosasih, Agus Susanto, Listyo Ambarpurnomo and Bahrum Wajagenda.

"There is one more suspect who is still at large. He is the master's degree program director and he is an Australian citizen with the initials LC," Soenarko said.

LC, or Luke Comay, signed the fake diploma certificates with Harris Robert.

All of the suspects will be charged under the National Education Law (No. 20/2003) and Articles 263 and 378 of the Criminal Code on forgery and fraud. The National Education Law carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail and a maximum fine of Rp 1 billion.

Soenarko said that the institute had held five graduation ceremonies this year alone.

"One of the graduation ceremonies earlier this year was even held at a famous hotel in Jakarta," Soenarko said.

He explained that police investigators were still studying documents obtained from the institute's offices.

"We're checking the names of the graduates from the institute to see if there are any famous personages who have obtained their degrees the wrong way. But all of the graduates will be charged under the National Education Law as they are not allowed to obtain and use fake degrees," he said.