A person who defrauded money from youth by promising jobs in South Korea has been taken into custody by officials of the Special Investigation Division of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).
According to the SLBFE, it was revealed that letters were sent to Members of Parliament stating that the Lions Club International, together with the SLBFE, had organized a program to provide jobs in South Korea, and requesting them to connect youth from their areas.
Based on information received by SLBFE Chairman Kosala Wickramasinghe, the matter was referred to the Investigation Division, and two undercover agents were deployed to gather details.
On March 28, during an introductory program at Kiyuro Advanced Education School near Rahula Junction in Matara, it was announced that youths completing language training would be placed in government‑facilitated jobs in South Korea, with a registration fee of Rs. 20,000.
It was further stated that those who registered would receive a voucher worth Rs. 35,000 from the Lions Club International for Korean language studies.
Acting on this information, investigation officers arrested the suspect on March 28 in the Matara area. He is a 49‑year‑old resident of Galle who had been working as a journalist.
Further investigations revealed that the suspect had previously operated a language training centre named Akazuki Lanka in Galle, and had also directed trainees there into this scheme.
It was also uncovered that the Lions Club International had no involvement in providing such jobs. In addition, evidence showed the suspect had previously engaged in a racket involving Japanese jobs.
The SLBFE stressed that the South Korean job program operates strictly between governments and that the Bureau does not collaborate with any other institutions.
Therefore, the SLBFE urged the public not to provide money or personal information to any external parties claiming to offer South Korean jobs.
The arrested suspect was produced before the Matara Magistrate’s Court on March 28 and has been remanded until April 7. (Newswire)
