Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Ministry of Higher Education has closed down 310 offices and establishments selling forged certificates from bogus foreign universities over the last four years, a ministry official revealed. "These offices and establishments were closed down between 2009 and 2013," said Abdullah Al-Qahtani, chairman of the ministry's committee to attest certificates. He told Al-Eqtisadiah daily that the ministry had sent official letters to the ministries of interior and commerce informing them about the suspicious activities of these offices and establishments. "The ministry also officially informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that a number of fake foreign universities were promoting themselves through their embassies in Saudi Arabia," he said. Al-Qahtani said his ministry had also complained to the Ministry of Labor about some training offices involved in this illegal business. "We have sent more than 40 letters to the Ministry of Interior asking them to take legal action against the violating offices, which were run by foreigners under the cover of some Saudi citizens," he said. Al-Qahtani said his ministry has been calling for severe punishments against the offices that sell forged certificates and publicize the bogus universities. "We are aiming to protect society against the spread of forged certificates and at the same time take legal action against public or private establishments involved in this practice," he said. Al-Qahtani called for a system to fight this phenomenon but admitted that the bogus universities are now publicizing themselves through e-mail circulations, the Internet and social networks, making them harder to control. Discussing government employees who hold high positions with their fake certificates, he said they are the responsibility of the employers who should have thoroughly verified their certificates before appointing them.
