Large scale job fraud suspect remanded

A suspect, arrested over the largest job fraud reported in the history of the Foreign Employment Bureau, has been remanded till Thursday.

The order was issued by the Mahara Magistrate’s Court. The suspect had fraudulently obtained 40 million rupees by promising employment opportunities in Japan.

However, the Ministry of Foreign Employment said more individuals who were subject to the fraud proceeded to file complaints. Accordingly, investigative officers said the amount fraudulently obtained could be over 100 million rupees.

A 45 year old woman was arrested after over 50 people filed complaints over employment opportunities which were not received after making payments.

Officers at the Foreign Employment Bureau seized 80 passports, a large number of Japan employment contract agreements, certificates and affidavits in possession of the suspect.

Meanwhile 14 official seals that were forged including two seals of the Japan Notary and the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau were seized.

It was revealed that the suspect fraudulently obtained between 700,000 to 800,000 rupees from each individual.

The suspect who is a Japanese degree holder was employed as a Japanese teacher in a school in Colombo. Investigations revealed the suspect was involved in the fraud since 2012.