KwaZulu-Natal police have appealed to victims of a scam, run by a Pinetown woman and involving a promise of jobs in Israel, to contact them.
Misha Dhamraj, 37, was busted by members of the Durban organised crime unit after ripping off two youths of R18000 each with a promise of employment in Israel.
Dhamraj was arrested on Monday at the TRM Recruitment Agency offices for fraud. The agency is not registered.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Jay Naicker said 30 passports were found on the premises during the arrest.
"It is alleged that the suspect promised people employment in Israel if they paid her cash for travel expenses.
Two victims paid the suspect R18000 each.
"But when they arrived at OR Tambo International Airport they established that she had booked return tickets for R3500 each, which meant she had only spent R7000 and pocketed the rest," Naicker said.
"On their arrival in Israel they were arrested because they did not have the necessary permits to be in Israel. They were deported to South Africa.
"During investigations 30 passports were found in the suspect's offices in Pinetown. Attempts were being made to get hold of the passports owners," Naicker said.
Dhamraj appeared in the Pinetown magistrate's court yesterday and she was released on R3000 bail on condition that she report to the Pinetown police station daily.
The case has been postponed to November 20 for further investigation.
"We appeal to anyone who paid the suspect in order to get employment to contact Inspector Mark Delwa on 031-333-8000," Naicker said.
Thembelihle Ndlovu, the victims' mother, said her daughters saw an advert in a newspaper about hotel jobs in Israel and became interested.
"I paid the money and on October 6 my daughters boarded a plane to OR Tambo International Airport but had problems until the following day.
"They eventually left for Israel but were not met on arrival by anyone as they expected," Ndlovu said.
She said her daughters were detained for two days and deported to South Africa.
"She had lied to us, saying their tickets were two-year return tickets and no visas were needed. But that was not the case."
wOMAN NABBED OVER JOBS SCAM
KwaZulu-Natal police have appealed to victims of a scam, run by a Pinetown woman and involving a promise of jobs in Israel, to contact them.
Misha Dhamraj, 37, was busted by members of the Durban organised crime unit after ripping off two youths of R18000 each with a promise of employment in Israel.
Dhamraj was arrested on Monday at the TRM Recruitment Agency offices for fraud. The agency is not registered.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Jay Naicker said 30 passports were found on the premises during the arrest.
"It is alleged that the suspect promised people employment in Israel if they paid her cash for travel expenses.
Two victims paid the suspect R18000 each.
"But when they arrived at OR Tambo International Airport they established that she had booked return tickets for R3500 each, which meant she had only spent R7000 and pocketed the rest," Naicker said.
"On their arrival in Israel they were arrested because they did not have the necessary permits to be in Israel. They were deported to South Africa.
"During investigations 30 passports were found in the suspect's offices in Pinetown. Attempts were being made to get hold of the passports owners," Naicker said.
Dhamraj appeared in the Pinetown magistrate's court yesterday and she was released on R3000 bail on condition that she report to the Pinetown police station daily.
The case has been postponed to November 20 for further investigation.
"We appeal to anyone who paid the suspect in order to get employment to contact Inspector Mark Delwa on 031-333-8000," Naicker said.
Thembelihle Ndlovu, the victims' mother, said her daughters saw an advert in a newspaper about hotel jobs in Israel and became interested.
"I paid the money and on October 6 my daughters boarded a plane to OR Tambo International Airport but had problems until the following day.
"They eventually left for Israel but were not met on arrival by anyone as they expected," Ndlovu said.
She said her daughters were detained for two days and deported to South Africa.
"She had lied to us, saying their tickets were two-year return tickets and no visas were needed. But that was not the case."
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