An individual and his wife have been arrested by officers of the Special Investigation Unit of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) over allegations of defrauding the general public by promising overseas employment.

The couple was arrested during a raid conducted in Welimada following information received by the Bureau.

According to the SLBFE, the suspects had previously operated their agency at an address in Dalugama, Kiribathgoda. However, the agency’s licence had expired on September 30 last year.

Despite the expiry of the licence, the couple had allegedly resumed operations under the same agency name in Welimada and carried out the alleged fraud.

The suspects had reportedly collected money from various individuals by promising employment opportunities in Serbia, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea and Romania, despite not having the relevant job orders.

The Bureau has received 12 complaints against the couple covering the period from last year until September 9 this year. Preliminary findings indicate that the total amount allegedly defrauded stands at Rs. 8.24 million.

Following their arrest, the suspects were produced before the Welimada Magistrate’s Court, which ordered that they be remanded until October 30.

The Bureau further stated that the husband, who is a resident of Kadawatha, is scheduled to be produced before the Mahara Magistrate’s Court on October 26 for further legal proceedings.