Filipina, Saudi national nabbed for illegal recruitment

A Saudi Arabian national and his Filipina employee were accosted by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Malate, Manila on Tuesday for allegedly swindling five job applicants.

Head Agent Ferdinand Lavin, executive officer of NBI-National Capital Region (NBI-NCR), identified the suspects as Fahad Akhzaim, 54, a businessman and owner of the Azozi Manpower Overseas; and his Filipina executive assistant, Jinky Intia, 38.

Another employee identified as Rowena Lufamia reportedly remains at large.

Lavin said the operation was conducted in response to the complaint filed by five of their victims namely Marites Abaya, Angeline Valdez, Jimmy Unggang and Antonio Healis and Kristofferson Anore.

The victims said in their complaint that they filed job applications with the agency as caregivers and nurses in Saudi Arabia and each of them paid P50,000 as placement fee.

"However, the promised employment did not materialize and they were given the run around saying that there was a problem with their documents," Lavin said.

Last May 15, the victims returned to the recruitment agency to inquire about the progress of their papers but Akhzaim allegedly demanded an additional P5,000 to cover other processing fees.

The complainants immediately sought the assistance of the NBI which prepared the P5,000 marked money and arranged an entrapment operation at the Azozi office.

It was Intia who allegedly received the money and was immediately arrested by operatives.

Senior Agent Reynold Tabbu, case investigator, verified the agency’s registration with the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) and learned that Azozi Manpower Overseas has been suspended since May 12.

Lavin said this shows that when the suspects demanded additional P5,000 in processing fees they were already sanctioned by the POEA.

Charges of violating the provisions of the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act or Republic Act 1842 and Estafa were filed against them before the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office.