Official questioned over fraud

Official questioned over fraud

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Police are questioning the head of the Indonesian Workers Association (Atkindo) of West Nusa Tenggara provincial office regarding the alleged fraud of hundreds of job seekers.

Police spokesman Adj. Comr. Tri Budi Pangastuti said here on Wednesday that HL Masrun had been questioned by a special crimes team over the case.

Pangastuti said that as many as 400 job seekers from Bima, Sumbawa, East Lombok, Central Lombok, West Lombok and Mataram had been recruited by Atkindo and promised employment on the JM Mariend cruise ship in the U.S..

They had paid administration fees ranging from Rp 650,000 to Rp 3 million for a range of services, including their visa applications.

None of the applicants have since been employed and there had been no major controversy until Oct. 25 when a group of 50 dissatisfied applicants blockaded Masrun's residence.

Pangastuti said that Masrun was not being detained.

"He has been in police custody voluntarily for security reasons." --Antara