An individual who allegedly defrauded a person of Rs. 1.2 million by promising employment opportunities in Israel has been arrested by the Police Unit of the Special Investigations Division at the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).

According to the Bureau, investigations have revealed that the suspect contested at the last General Election from Kalutara District and had also posed as a Presidential Coordinating Secretary during the previous government.

Investigations further revealed that the suspect gained the complainant’s trust by accompanying them to the head office of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment as part of the scheme.

Following his arrest, the suspect was produced before the Hulftsdorp No. 5 Magistrate’s Court and was remanded until October 14.

At the time of his arrest, authorities also recovered forged documents in his possession, which had allegedly been prepared to recruit individuals as office assistants at the Ministry of Ports and Aviation.

The Bureau of Foreign Employment stated that information has emerged indicating that the suspect had allegedly been carrying out similar fraudulent activities over an extended period by using the names of senior officials of the SLBFE.