Police probing scam that preys on students

Police probing scam that preys on students

JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta police precinct is questioning
a top executive of Yayasan Berkat Sarana Pendidikan (YBSP) for
allegedly cheating students from several countries, including
Indonesia, out of millions of rupiah.

"We started questioning Benny Setiadji on Thursday and hope
the results can be revealed by next week," South Jakarta police
precinct Chief Lt. Col. Silvanus Yulian Wenas told The Jakarta
Post on Saturday.

YBSP is the owner of the Australian Business Education
Institute (ABEI) at the Wijaya Grand Center, Blok A No. 12 A - B
in South Jakarta. ABEI was closed down by Benny, chairman of the
foundation, without warning. The foundation has reportedly
refused to facilitate the transfer of its former students to
another foundation, named Yayasan Pendidikan Indonesia Belanda
(YPIB), chaired by Juangga M. Mangunsong.

YPIB is said to have taken over the responsibility for the
institute.

"Based on our investigations, Benny is the one who has to take
over the responsibility of the students," Wenas said.

Over 30 students, including students from Egypt, Malaysia,
Russia and South Korea, have registered to take several business
and hotel management courses with the school. Fees are set at
between Rp 800,000 (US$366) for a three-month course and Rp 3.6
million for a one-year course, per person.

The students claimed they had taken classes for only two to
three weeks before YBSP suddenly closed them down without the
students' knowledge.

Wenas said that police have also questioned six students from
the institute as witnesses. (bsr)