One agent who worked for Lambirds Academy has said that he was sent the same documents that were provided to local police by the group of Asians who were conned here.
Jeevan Sharma of Nepal told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) via email that as part of verifying that it was a legitimate operation, he requested that the school send copies of licences and other supporting documents.
“All the credential of the institute was sent to us, when we asked for the authentication of institute,” he said.
Sharma who is a partner of Blackgrain Solution Pvt Ltd. Kathmandu in Nepal said he also received from the Academy, approved letters from the Immigration Department of St Lucia with visa waiver for his clients.
“How will you believe its scam when you are getting visa saying student of Lambirds in the visa waiver letter,” he questioned.
The agent said the only person he knew and was dealing with all the time was Iftekhar Ahmed Shams the President and Chairman of Lambirds Academy.
Sharma told SNO that the students did pay the tuition fee required, but claims it was not paid to agents, rather these payments were directly credited to the institute’s bank account in Castries.
“Each agent only took processing fee of NRs. 25,000.00 (i.e US$250.00). All the money should be refunded by the Lambirds Academy,” he explained.
Sharma also sent SNO documents with several bank wire transfer receipts of the students’ fee, which were directly paid to the Lambirds Academy through the Bank of Nova Scotia.
“All agents from Nepal and India are trying to work this out to get the students paid money refunded from the Lambirds Academy before they are sending back to the originated country. And we are seeking for help and want to help with the investigation,” he added.
The group of foreigners – from Nepal and The Phillipines – claimed that they paid at least US$9,000 each to an agent from their region to secure a place at Lambirds Academy in Gros Islet, St. Lucia.
At the Academy, the prospective students were to be trained in hospitality management and promised employment in the United States of America after completing the one-year programme.
Four men have been arrested and charged with human trafficking in connection with the alleged internet scam at Lambirds Academy.
