Promotion-hungry officials duped

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