Zimbabwean company boss held in Botswana over alleged jobs scam

GABORONE,
Botswana
–
A
29-year-old
Zimbabwean
man
accused
of
orchestrating
an
international
job-seekers
scam
has
been
remanded
in
custody
after
appearing
before
the
Village
Magistrates’
Court
in
Gaborone,
Botswana,
on
Tuesday.

Evans
Sivechere,
a
director
of
Diamond
Migration
(Pty)
Ltd,
was
arrested
on
Sunday
at
Sir
Seretse
Khama
International
Airport
following
what
Botswana
police
described
as
“intensive
investigations.”

He
is
facing
11
counts
of
fraud.

Sivechere
and
his
company
allegedly
defrauded
11
people
of
more
than
P240,000
between
October
last
year
and
October
23
this
year.
Prosecutors
say
the
victims
were
misled
into
believing
Diamond
Migration
was
processing
overseas
job
placements
and
work
permits
on
their
behalf.

The
applicants
reportedly
submitted
all
required
documents
and
paid
various
fees,
but
later
realised
no
jobs
existed.

The
alleged
scam
involved
purported
employment
opportunities
in
Ireland,
the
Czech
Republic,
Bulgaria,
Luxembourg,
Finland,
Poland
and
Greece.

Investigators
say
more
charges
could
be
added
as
the
probe
continues.

Sivechere
is
due
back
in
court
on
December
2.

The
Botswana
Police
Service
has
urged
the
public
to
be
cautious
when
dealing
with
employment
or
recruitment
agencies
and
to
verify
their
legitimacy
before
making
any
payments.