KD 2,500 for a Ticket & Job in Europe? 25 Expats Accuse Kuwait Employment Agency Owner of Fraud

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 3: What appeared to expatriates to be a ticket to Europe and a better-paying job has turned into a fraud investigation, after the owner of an employment agency was arrested following complaints from around 25 expatriates who alleged they were promised jobs and work visas in European countries.

According to a security source, mostly Asian expatriates approached a Capital Governorate police station after responding to advertisements from the agency offering employment opportunities in Europe. They said they met the agency owner, who allegedly promised to secure jobs and obtain work visas based on their qualifications and experience.

The complainants said they paid between KD 2,000 and KD 2,500 per transaction, depending on their qualifications, and were required to have valid passports and residency permits in Kuwait. They also said they signed contracts promising that their applications would be completed within a few months.

But the promised opportunities never materialized.

As the months passed, the expatriates said they repeatedly contacted the agency seeking updates but received no clear answers. Eventually, they were allegedly told not to contact the company again and that they would be contacted if their contracts became available.

When the complainants demanded their money back, they said they were told that the money had already been spent on visa procedures.

The Criminal Investigation Department’s Capital Governorate investigations unit launched a probe after receiving the complaints. Investigators said their inquiries supported the complainants’ allegations of fraud and deception.

The agency owner was contacted and asked to appear for questioning, but he allegedly refused. Investigators then sought the intervention of the Public Prosecution, which ordered his arrest. A Criminal Investigation Department team subsequently apprehended him.

During questioning, the suspect reportedly admitted to receiving money from the expatriates. He told investigators that he had been working to arrange job opportunities for them but needed additional time to complete the procedures.

When investigators asked whether he could return the money, he reportedly acknowledged that doing so would be difficult.

The source did not clarify whether the accused had an official licence or permit to conduct employment-related activities.

The suspect was referred for the necessary legal procedures as authorities continue examining the complaints and the transactions involved.