Two individuals who allegedly collected money from job seekers by promising employment opportunities in Israel’s construction and hospitality sectors have been arrested.
The suspects were arrested by officers attached to the Special Investigation Police Unit of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), within the premises of the Bureau.
The investigation was launched following information received by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra that two individuals had collected money from people waiting to secure jobs in Israel, claiming that they could provide them with employment opportunities in Israel’s construction and hospitality sectors under a government programme.
Acting on the information, investigation officers had arrested the two suspects at the SLBFE.
One of the suspects is a suspended police constable residing in Buttala, while the other is a resident of Beliatta, according to officials.
Seven passports and several Israeli employment agreement documents were also taken into police custody from the suspects at the time of their arrest.
Investigations have revealed that the suspects had repeatedly brought job seekers into the Bureau and acted in a manner that created the impression that they could arrange employment for them.
They had also allegedly behaved in a manner that made them appear to be officials of the Bureau.
Further investigations have revealed that the suspects were allegedly being directed by a woman identified as ‘Chandani Menike,’ who had previously been arrested by the Bureau’s Investigation Division for allegedly engaging in an Israel job scam and was later granted bail by the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court.
Further investigations into the alleged racket are underway.
The suspects are scheduled to be produced before the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court today (13).
The SLBFE has urged members of the public visiting the Bureau to obtain services and information only from officials attached to the relevant sections or, alternatively, from officers at the reception counter.
The Bureau has also urged the public to refrain from engaging in transactions with any individuals loitering in the corridors or outside the premises.
