LEBANON

Four universities investigated for selling fake degrees
A string of high-profile arrests related to the awarding of fake degrees has put government corruption in the spotlight once more in Lebanon, writes Sunniva Rose for The National.First coming to light last summer when Lebanese soldiers were discovered to be applying for promotions using forged university diplomas, a network of corrupt universities and government officials has since been exposed. Over 40 people, including both civilians and military personnel, have been imprisoned since the scandal hit the headlines, according to local TV station LBCI.
The most high-profile arrest occurred in mid-March, when the director-general of higher education at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education was arrested, alongside a staff member who was in charge of validating university diplomas. They were held on suspicion of accepting bribes in exchange for issuing valid diplomas to people who were not students.
Full report on The National site