Fake jobs firm under probe
By BEGENA P PRADEEP
AN investigation has been launched in India over allegations that a travel agency has tried to con almost 500 people out of money by advertising fake jobs in Bahrain. The GDN had reported earlier that the firm planned to collect recruitment and visa fees from 492 Indian workers by promising them jobs that didn’t exist.
Flyway Tours and Travels (FTT) in Kerala allegedly advertised jobs at the Bahrain-based Alfouz Contracting Company.
However, the Bahraini firm has denied any knowledge and says it has never dealt with the firm.
It also claimed that investigations had revealed the company was not even registered with India’s Labour Ministry.
The alleged scam came to light when FTT approached the office of India’s Protector of Emigrants (POE), in Thiruv-ananthapuram, Ker-ala, on October 11 seeking permission to advertise job vacancies at the Bahraini firm and interview applicants.
The POE contacted the Indian Embassy in Bahrain to confirm that Alfouz Contracting Company was indeed planning to hire workers.
However, the company claims to have never even heard of FTT.
Another fake letter to the POE listed the company’s requirements for workers, along with details of their contracts.
In the letter FTT claims to have received the power of attorney to recruit 492 workers for the Bahrain company.
It was signed by someone called A Salahudeen, the proprietor.
With this request letter they had also attached a copy of a fake letter claiming to be from Alfouz Contracting Company company, authorising FTT to recruit on their behalf in Kerala.
The company claims that their letterhead and seal has been forged by the accused.
The letterhead also included the company’s Bahrain address, telephone and fax number, e-mail address and CR (Commercial Registration) number.
“The company received an e-mail from the City Police Commissioner of Thiruv-ananthapuram in Kerala asking for a digital or scanned image of its original office seal and signature,” said Alfouz Contracting Company general manager Jimmy Joseph.
“The e-mail says that the enquiries into the allegation that we have raised against Flyway Tours and Travels is in progress.
“The investigators need to verify the original seal and signature of our company to analyse its resemblance and likeness with those on the fake documents fabricated by Flyway Tours and Travels.”
Thiruvana-nthapuram City Police Commiss-ioner Ravada Chandra Sekhar confirmed to the GDN that an investigation had been launched.
“Yes, it’s true that we have launched an investigation into the allegations made by the Bahrain company against the Flyway Tours and Travels,” said Mr Sekhar.
“We have asked the company to give us all the information they have about the allegation.
“The case is in the primary stage and we are still trying to confirm if the allegations have any base.”
The company had also lodged a formal complaint with the Indian Overseas Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi, Kerala state Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and Kerala state Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.
An Indian Embassy official said he was aware of the case and that the complaint had been forwarded to officials in India.