170 INDIAN NATIONALS SAY THEY WERE DUPED BY AGENTS

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) -- A hundred and seventy Indian nationals
were devastated when they realised that they had been duped by employment agents
upon arrival in the country.

They said the agents who arranged their trip were irresponsible and washed
their hands after taking their cash and travel documents.

Secretary of the Jalan Loke Yew Sikh and Hindu Crematorium, Sampuran Singh,
acting as spokesman for the group, said three Indian nationals and a Pakistani
were believed to be the agents.

"All four are believed to have arranged their trip to Malaysia and took
their money and travel documents saying they would continue with the process to
get them employment.

"But after the possessions were taken, their faces were nowhere to be seen,"
said Sampuran who is an intermediary to help the Indians.

He said all of them paid between 150,000 and 200,000 rupees (RM10,900 to
RM21,800) to the agents.

Sampuran said all of them came in stages in small groups.

"Some had come in the middle of last year and their number grew due to the
failure of the Indian High Commission to help them get temporary travel
documents," he added.

Sampuran, who symphatised with the plight of the victims, will make a police
report at the Dang Wangi police station Saturday.

-- BERNAMA