Eight arrested for selling diplomas
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.