Police PC among two arrested on Israel job racket

Two individuals who collected money from job seekers by claiming to provide jobs in the construction and hotel sectors in Israel, were arrested yesterday within the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment premises, by the police unit of its special investigation division.

The investigation was conducted based on information received by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra claiming that two outsiders collected money from individuals who visit the online job platform in anticipation of Israel jobs. The suspects, reaching out to job seekers, assured jobs in the construction and restaurant sectors in Israel, despite the government-operated authorised line of recruitment, SLBFE mentioned.

Acting on this information, investigation officers arrested the two suspects waiting on the first floor of the bureau yesterday.

The first suspect is a suspended police constable residing in the Buttala area, while the other suspect is a resident of the Beliatta area.

Officers took seven passports and Israel job agreement papers found in the possession of the suspects into custody at the time of the arrest.

Investigations revealed that these individuals summoned job seekers inside the bureau several times, acting in a manner that creates trust that jobs can be provided and impersonating that they are officers of the bureau.

Information was reported to investigation officers that these suspects were directed by a woman named Chandani Menike, who was previously arrested by the investigation division of the SLBFE for engaging in an Israel job racket and released on bail by the Kaduwela Magistrate's Court.

Further investigations regarding this racket are underway, and the arrested suspects are scheduled to be produced before the Kaduwela Magistrate's Court today.

Authorities request the public who seek services from the SLBFE to obtain services and information only from the officers working in the relevant divisions, or otherwise to obtain services from the officers at the reception counter.

Furthermore, the SLBFE emphasises the public to avoide transacting with any person staying in the corridors or outside of the SLBFE premises.