Seventeen police officers may have forged their course entry dates to the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice programme at the Philippines’ Tarlac State University (TSU), according to the Apple Daily.

All 17 officers applied for the course between January and March 2013 through Lifelong College in Hong Kong. However, records from TSU state that they all entered the programme on October 29, 2012, the newspaper said.

The office of Lifelong College. Photo: Stand News.

The Apple Daily report also said that the TSU halted admissions for the Criminal Justice programme after it was found by the Filipino media to be selling diplomas in collaboration with Lifelong College in 2013.

HKFP has reached out to the police for comment.

Lifelong College, established in 1998 and tied to Lingnan University council member Alex Lee Ye-Lick, was embroiled in a diploma mill scandal last year. Media reports said the institution linked up with administrators at the Lingnan University to sell illegitimate degrees from overseas. Actress Sisley Choi Si-Pui and District Council member Anna Tang King-Yung were found to have received diplomas through the institution.

Update on January 20: In reply, the police said that the police is following up on the matter and that it has always encouraged its officers to continue learning so that they can improve their personal professional abilities and better serve the police force and citizens.