Fake diplomas mar village chief race

Fake diplomas mar village chief race

TANGERANG (JP): At least 17 of 386 candidates up for 119
village chief posts in Tangerang regency here are suspected of
submitting fake school diplomas to meet the prerequisites for the
coveted position.

The head of the regency's village administration department,
H.E. Kusnadi, said Wednesday the election committee discovered
the fraud thanks to tip-offs from the public as well as the
candidates' competitors.

"The election committee received many reports from public and
the candidates' rivals that many of the candidates never passed
their junior high schools," Kusnadi said.

The committee required candidates to have junior high school
diplomas or their equivalency to qualify for selection.

Candidates who fell short of the requirements reportedly
bribed officials to obtain diplomas and used phony school stamps,
Kusnadi said. (41/jun)