A travel agency director accused of cheating more than 70 job aspirants of Rs 1.63 crore by promising lucrative employment opportunities abroad has been arrested by Kerala Police from Chhattisgarh.
Mary Lopez, a native of Neendakara in Kollam, was taken into custody by Anchalummoodu Police following an investigation into a series of complaints against Ezra Global Tours and Travels.
Mary Lopez, a native of Neendakara in Kollam, was taken into custody by Anchalummoodu Police following an investigation into a series of complaints against Ezra Global Tours and Travels, a recruitment and travel agency that operated from Neeravil in Kollam. However, despite collecting money over the past two years, the agency failed to arrange visas or employment for the applicants. Several victims approached the police after repeated attempts to recover their money proved unsuccessful. Complainants also accused the agency’s operators of threatening them when they demanded refunds. Mary Lopez was produced before a court after undergoing a medical examination and remanded to judicial custody.
Applicants were charged between Rs 4 lakh and Rs 6 lakh each to secure employment overseas.
The agency promised visas and high-paying jobs in countries including Israel, Australia and the Netherlands, according to police. Police said the agency shut down its operations after complaints of fraud began surfacing, and those running the establishment went into hiding.
