CEBU CITY – Charges have been filed against an Indian accused of illegal recruitment and estafa in Cebu.
The National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7) said it is only awaiting the issuance of a warrant to enable them to arrest Harjot Singh, alias “James Jeiz.”
Singh resides in Barangay Bulacao here, the NBI 7 said.
The NBI 7 said Singh has victimized at least 26 Cebuanos who were offered for a job abroad in exchange for a fee amounting to as high as P20,000.
Harjot started recruiting in June 2021 but failed to fulfill his promise.
NBI 7 investigation showed that Singh would invite people for a meet up to discuss job opportunity abroad.
Singh promised his victims that they would work as cashiers in Australia for five years with a monthly salary of P130,000.
To make his recruitment look authentic, Singh would present to his victims what he described as contract, the NBI 7 said.
The recruits will immediately fly to Australia once advised by the Australian Embassy in Manila, Singh promised.
Singh also asked his recruits to submit medical records and payment for his services, the NBI 7 said.
“However, months passed and the applicants were waiting in vain. Until on March 2022 most of those recruited decided to withdraw their application and demanded for a full refund of their placement fee. No deployment ever happened and neither did Singh return their placement fee,” NBI 7 said in a statement.
When the victims sought its help, the NBI 7 coordinated Philippine Overseas Employment Agency and discovered that Singh is not a licensed recruiter for jobs overseas.
The Indian is also facing complaints for violating the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995, the NBI 7 said.