The moment 25-year-old Rabin Rimal of Banjkhet-8, Lamjung had a copy of a working visa to Belgium in his hand, he thought he was almost there. Hurriedly, Rimal left for Kathmandu from his hometown, as his flight was just a week ahead. With much excitement, Rimal did all his shopping and was ready to fly.

Rimal, who was supposed to catch a flight this September 20, realised two days in advance that his visa was a fake document sent by the agent, whom he had paid a total of Rs 775,000. “I had been unable to contact the agent via phone of late. Then, I rushed to his office to know if my tickets had been booked,” said Rimal. “When I reached there, I almost fainted knowing that I had been swindled.”

Prem Rai, managing director of General Education Consultancy Pvt Ltd, Putalisadak had fled, cheating more than 25 jobseekers, known so far. He had promised to send these individuals to different countries like Belgium, Ireland, Portugal, Australia and Dubai on working visas. Rai, who had been alluring different groups of jobseekers since the last one year, is now unreachable after collecting an estimated Rs five million from the group.

“He (Rai) might have cheated more people, but till now we are a group of around 30 — all facing the same problem,” a group told The Himalayan Times. “Most of us have submitted around Rs 130,000 with a hope of getting a work visa.” Rai used to communicate with these people using different Facebook names — Prem Bahadur Rai, Dayahang Rai, and General Education Consultancy. 

Initially, Rai had published an advertisement in hamrobazar.com, around five months ago, calling for people who wanted to work abroad, mainly in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and some Asian countries. 

Besides, he used to communicate with them through a mobile number, which is now switched off. A group, including Ganesh Kumar Oli of Rukum, Ashmir Basnet of Hetauda, Chetan Thapa and Grisma Thapa of Butwal and three others were promised agriculture jobs in Portugal. 

“We were told that we could make up to 900 euros a month picking strawberries for 10 hours a day,” said Nirmal Namjane of Palpa. Each of these individuals had agreed to pay Rai Rs 800,000 if they were granted visas as promised. Rai grabbed Rs 130,000 from each of them so far saying that they were all set to work for Pasmo Agro Industries — a firm based in Lisbon, Portugal.

Another group including Pawan Basnet of Solukhumbu was offered job in a company ‘D Shop — a complete kitchen solution — in Belgium, whereas another group including Raju Tiwari of Dhading was promised jobs in LAWCO, a food packaging company in Ireland. “We tried to verify our visas with the concerned embassies in India and came to know that they were all fakes.” Rai had taken 

Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 in advance as service charge from each individual, promising them that it would take only 45 days to get the visas. He kept asking for more money while he was in Kathmandu and later from India, showing soft copies of fake visas.

Rai had fled to Delhi saying that he had to ensure the visas were original and sent in a timely manner. Using an Indian mobile number, Rai used to chat with these individuals and ask for more money through hundi.

The cheated group later found out that Rai had been swindling them using different identities and addresses. “We went to the Department of Foreign Employment and then to Metropolitan Police Hanumandhoka seeking help but no one listened to us,” lamented Pema Nyodup, who had paid Rs 445,000 in advance in a hope to get a visa to Ireland.

For last 10 days, consultancy has remained closed and a lady-staff, who used to work there, is also unreachable.

Published on: 19 September 2014 | The Himalayan Times