Prime accused in overseas recruitment scam gets bail

The prime accused in an overseas recruitment scam, Parvathy Maya Shaji, founder and CEO of Kochi-based Amster Overseas, was granted bail by the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Ernakulam, on Monday (September 28), even as hundreds of victims of the alleged financial fraud staged a protest at the company’s office in Edappally. She was granted bail in two cases in which she was arrested by the Palarivattom police and remanded recently.

High drama prevailed at the company’s office as people from various places confronted the staff, demanding speedy repayment of the amounts they had allegedly paid years ago after being promised jobs abroad.

Speaking to the media amid the protest, Vishnu, the agency’s branch manager, maintained that the company intended to refund the affected parties.

The Palarivattom police, meanwhile, said they would submit a report to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking further probe into the money transactions involved in the cases.

The police will report to the Central agency the details of the three cases they have registered against Ms. Shaji and others.

“The ED will be intimated about the cases as the accused have received money in bank accounts abroad for services promised or delivered in India,” a city police officer said.

Police sources said it is learnt that the firm has repaid the money received from around 100 people following the arrest of Ms. Shaji.

The cases pertain to allegations that the company cheated the complainants, one each from Ernakulam, Thrissur and Malappuram districts, of lakhs of rupees after promising them jobs in Poland and Armenia.