The scam came to light after 14 Nepali students returned home from St Lucia within two weeks of their departure. Preliminary investigation of the Metropolitan Police Crime Division shows that a huge racket was involved in swindling Nepali youths.
Following complaints from St Lucia returnees, the Crime Division arrested the operator of the Chitwan-based Visa Abroad Education Consultancy. The arrested has been identified as Sujan Neupane, 26, of Bharatpur-11, Chitwan. Neupane was arrested from Kesharmahal of Kathmandu. Preliminary investigation shows that 15 students, who were sent to St Lucia, had paid Rs 1.2 million each."When we reached St Lucia, we found that there was no college we were supposed to enroll in," a student who returned from St Lucia said requesting anonymity. Lambirds Academy of St Lucia had issued necessary documents for students to reach St Lucia.
The students knew that the CEO and other staffers of the academy were already under police scanner for similar scams earlier. "We were supposed to study in the academy for a year and then be transferred to another college in US with job guarantee," he said.
Media reports stated that four people from India and Bangladesh were arrested and charged with trafficking students from Nepal and the Philippines.
According to the students the racket has several agents of Lambirds Academy in Nepal. "They prepare fool-proof documents and nobody would even suspect they are fake. It was only after we were returned that we realized we had been duped."
"We have found that swindlers are working in the guise of education consultancy. We have identified many consultancies that are involved in similar crimes," said SSP Sarbendra Khanal. "We will expose them soon." Police said that students have demanded refund and maximum punishment to the guilty. Media reports said Lambird Academy operates two colleges in Gros Islet and Rodney Heights and has been closed after allegations of several scams.
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