'Graduates' fess up to buying titles

JAKARTA: Police on Wednesday were questioning four recipients of phony academic titles from an outfit calling itself Institut Manajemen Global Indonesia (IMGI) who had paid up to Rp 25 million (US$2,500) for the diplomas.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Soenarko Danu Ardanto said the four had admitted that they had never attended a single class to obtain the certificates from IMGI. Despite their confessions, the police have not declared them suspects. The use of illegal academic titles carries a maximum five years imprisonment according to the 2004 education law.

Soenarko said the police had no plan to summons a former vice president, several former cabinet ministers and police officers for questioning either, despite them being listed as IMGI "graduates". -- JP