In the latest development in the case against Yarab Global Education Consultancy and Placement Firm, police are investigating allegations of deceptive practices and will also look into possible charges of forgery and human trafficking charges, among others. Police say, 46 clients have been affected so far, and more complaints are expected as the investigation continues.
Job promise in Cyprus
It never crossed the 31-year-old’s mind that the promise of overseas employment would spiral into months of deception, financial ruin, and lasting trauma.
Her journey began with a Facebook advertisement promoting a work program in Canada. When she approached the consultancy for details, she was instead offered a job at a strawberry farm in Cyprus, with the departure scheduled for December 2024.
Payments began in November 2024. She paid an initial Nu 50,000 upfront, followed by another Nu 50,000 for document processing in the same month.
In December, she paid Nu 200,000 for visa processing and Nu 140,000 for an air ticket.
Shifting destinations and missing visa
But even as the payments mounted, the promised destination kept changing – from Cyprus to Luxembourg, the Azerbaijan, and later Austria.
In January last year, the consultancy asked her for more personal documents, including ID proof, photos, bank statements, and experience certificates.
By February, she received what appeared to be an invitation from the Medical University of Vienna, along with a travel itinerary for a tourist visa and biometric appointments in Kolkata, India.
The Austrian visa, however, never arrived.
She was later told that the consultancy itself had been scammed and her application had instead been submitted for Serbia.
On tourist visa in Vietnam
By May, she was sent to Vietnam, supposedly for a one-month work placement before onward travel to Europe.
But in Vietnam, the reality was starkly different.
The promised job with a monthly salary of Nu 50,000 did not exist. She discovered that she was there on a tourist visa.
“We were told the jobs were ready and that we could start work immediately, with food and accommodation provided. But in Vietnam, we were never taken to the workplace. After repeatedly asking, they finally took us far outside the city to a factory. Even then, there was no proper job arranged. They were still trying to find work for us after we had already arrived.”
‘Darkest period of my life’
Another affected client describes the one month and four days spend in Vietnam as the darkest period of her life.
Along with her, more than 10 Bhutanese travelled to Vietnam, all chasing the same promise of better employment.
“During our time in Vietnam, one of my friends attempted to take her own life. That moment made me regret ever trying to go abroad to earn money. We left our families in Bhutan believing things would work out, but it ended in fear, pain, and tears. I don’t think I will ever forget this experience.”
Department of Law and Order cites alleged human trafficking
The Department of Law and Order received complaints from the affected clients in July last year and forwarded the case to the police for further investigation.
According to the department, the circumstances described amount to alleged human trafficking.
Karma Dorji, Officiating Director General of Department of Law and Order said, “Education consultancies are not authorised to provide jobs abroad. Their role is limited to facilitating overseas education. In this case, a consultancy promised employment, sent people abroad, and forced them to work in conditions and jobs that were never agreed upon. This constitutes an alleged offence of human trafficking.”
Police say they are working closely with relevant authorities, including Interpol, to trace and arrest those involved in the case.
Tashi Dekar
