Cheated job seekers feel embarrassed, seek refund

Muninggar Sri Saraswati The Jakarta Post Jakarta

Who could resist an offer to watch the upcoming World Cup in Japan and earn money at the same time?

Certainly not job seekers, who were impressed by classified advertisements offering jobs for Indonesians as cleaning service workers during the World Cup in South Korea and Japan, which was scheduled to be held in May.

The advertisement by labor recruitment agency PT Panca Abadi Jaya had lured more than 300 job seekers. It said that each worker, who would be hired for six months beginning March 1, would be paid 1,200 yen (US$9.02) per hour.

Atmo, one of the job seekers, who had never worked abroad before, admitted he applied for the job since he wanted to earn more money.

"But it's not only about the money. I also expected to watch the World Cup," said Atmo, who claimed to be a soccer fan.

Atmo sent an application letter to the company in January, which is located on Jl. Poltangan in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta. Panca Abadi Jaya sent a reply stating that Atmo must bring some US$3,000 to cover his airfare to Japan and to arrange the necessary documents.

To make sure about his luck, Atmo visited several well-known psychics in his hometown in Surakarta, Central Java. All of them said that he would soon step foot in Japan. Their positive forecasts convinced Atmo to apply for the job.

Atmo, who is unemployed, visited the company earlier last month after borrowing money from relatives.

The other job seekers claimed they had to pawn their houses in the hope they would be able to pay it back after working in Japan.

Another job seeker who had worked abroad said that he had observed the company before applying for the job and paying the fee.

"They have complete documents, including a letter signed by an official from the Ministry of Manpower. But I don't know whether the documents are genuine or fake," said Firtah, who finished all his savings to make the payment.

Confirmation from an electronic company in Japan, which will sponsor the World Cup convinced Firtah to apply for the job. It said that it had assigned a labor supplier to send cleaning service workers during the World Cup.

After signing a contract, they paid the money to the company which claimed it would fly them to Japan on Feb. 20.

The job seekers, however, had to bury their hopes as the company failed to fly them to Japan. The company owners, Josua Kristoper Massie and Yoes Rosiana, absconded with the job seekers money.

On Monday, 284 people filed a report against the company for fraud with the South Jakarta District Police.

A day later, 46 job seekers handed over one of PT Panca's employees, Tiurma Purnama Sinambela, to the Central Jakarta Police.

Tiurma could evade her responsibility as on Feb. 17, some job seekers gathered at her house in the Cempaka Putih area in Central Jakarta.

According to Central Jakarta Police intelligence chief Comr. A.R. Yoyol, the suspect admitted Yoes had asked her to find some workers to be sent to Japan.

Tiurma was able to gather 40 people who agreed to pay $3,000 each. She took $1,000 for herself and gave the rest to Josua. She then handed $500 to Yoes.

Since the cancellation, the suspects had paid Rp 4 million back to some job seekers.

Police is still looking for the suspects, who are currently at large.

Atmo said that he was embarrassed by the case; so were several job seekers from Cilacap, Central Java, as they had left the town with a ceremony, which was attended by the regent.

"I don't know what to do. How will I explain to everyone?," said Atmo, who did not know how he would be able to pay back the money he had borrowed from his relatives.