The owner of a foreign employment agency in Maharagama has been remanded until November 14 over allegations of defrauding job seekers of more than Rs. 740 million by falsely promising employment opportunities in Romania.
The suspect surrendered to the Gangodawila Magistrate’s Court through his attorneys on October 30 and was subsequently remanded the following day.
Key Details of the Allegations
• Complaints: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed the court that approximately 470 complaints had been lodged against the suspect agency with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE). The SLBFE then referred the complaints to the CID for investigation.
• Total Amount: The alleged fraud involves over Rs. 740 million.
• Modus Operandi: Investigations revealed that the agency had collected large sums of money from individuals across the island under the pretext of arranging foreign employment in Romania.
• Court Order: During the hearing on October 31, the Magistrate considered the submissions and ordered the suspect to be remanded until November 14 pending further investigations.
Action Against Suspect’s Wife
The Magistrate also directed the CID to take legal action against the suspect’s wife, who has been identified as another key figure in the alleged scam, and produce her before court.
This ongoing investigation aims to uncover the full scope of the massive foreign employment fraud.
