Promotion-hungry officials duped

JAKARTA: Three high-ranking officials transferred millions of rupiah to an unidentified person who promised them promotions only to realize that they had been conned.

The President's secretary for military affairs, Maj. Gen. T.B. Hassanudin, confirmed on Thursday that three officials, including an air marshal, had fallen for the scam.

"An unidentified person claiming to be from the presidential office called government officials on their cell phones and asked them to transfer a certain amount of money to a bank account if they wanted to be promoted," Hassanudin said.

One of the victims transferred Rp 100 million (US$11,360) to the bank account.

When asked whether the swindle had succeeded because it was common practice at the presidential palace to pay for a promotion, Hassanudin said: "No, this is because some people are too ambitious to get promoted." -- JP