Kuwait recruiter’s bank account on ice

October 23, 2009 10:49:59 AM

• A⁺ 
• A^-
• |
• 
• |
• 
• |
• 

Fiji’s Defence Minister says they have frozen the bank account of the head of a recruiting agency who failed to provide jobs in Kuwait for thousands of locals.

Ratu Epeli Ganilau told FijiLive that local authorities took the action on Director of Meridian Services Agency, Timoci Lolohea, when he did not return from the oil-rich Gulf country since going there four years ago.

“He is back in the country now and police are investigating him,” he told FijiLive.

Ratu Epeli said there are “pending cases against” Lolohea, but declined to elaborate on the charges.

Lolohea is alleged to have amassed around $3million from thousands of skilled and unskilled workers who paid minimum fees of $150 and up to $300.

Lolohea formed his company in November, 2004 and began hiring truck drivers, mechanics, storemen and computer operators for the Kuwait-based Public Warehousing Company, which transported goods into Iraq.

With promises of salaries starting at $1,700 a month, the response from the public was overwhelming.

Meridian staff started touring rural villages in a drive to sign up workers as it talked about hiring 15,000 Fijians before the year 2000.

Even the Government then saw the company as a savior in solving the country’s employment problem and gave its full backing.

"We are very happy, because it helps to solve our unemployment problem and brings in remittances," Taito Waqa, then acting head of the Department of Labour is quoted saying.

Lolohea is believed to have returned to Fiji recently. Outside his Suva home is a sign that says that he has been recruiting workers for Dubai, which has become the latest destination since Kuwait for Fijians seeking better paid jobs abroad.

Lolohea has declined to speak to the media.

* Get the latest weather on your phone. Txt VLWH to 333 now