Public warned about con man

BOGOR (JP): Bogor mayor R. Iswara Natanegara has warned the public to be on its guard after an impostor claiming to be from his office swindled officials from at least seven mosques of Rp 2.65 million (US$335).

"I appeal to the public to report to the police or contact us at 356 068 if anybody identifies a person claiming to be a member of staff from my office," Iswara said in a statement, copies of which were made available to the mosques here on Tuesday.

He said the unidentified man, often wearing a khaki outfit, used aliases of Hasan Tisna, Wandi Rachmat and Rochmat.

Witnesses described the man as short, overweight, dark-skinned and with curly hair. He occasionally wears glasses, the mayor said.

He said the man succeeded in convincing the mosque officials that he could help them obtain funds -- ranging from Rp 18 million to Rp 20 million -- from the West Java governor, or assist in procuring vehicles.

"He asked the victims to give him money, ranging from Rp 200,000 to Rp 500,000, which he said would be used to help facilitate the disbursement of the fund," mayoralty spokesman Hari Harsono said. (24/emf>