A Canadian man has been arrested in Bangkok for allegedly selling bogus job apprenticeships abroad to Thai students at 150,000 baht each.
Pol Col Arun Wachirasrisukanya, a superintendent at the Crime Suppression Division, said Michael Roberge, 37, was detained at the Amarin Plaza building in Pathumwan district, Bangkok, on Wednesday.
His arrest followed complaints from university students. One told police Mr Roberge, through his company, offered him an apprenticeship at the Pittsburgh Marriott City Centre Hotel in Pennsylvania at a wage of US$14 (461 baht) per hour, on payment of a 150,000-baht fee. He did not see him again after paying the money.
Another student complained he paid the same amount for an apprenticeship at a Thai restaurant in Miami. A wage of $8 per hour was promised. A month after paying the money he was unable to contact Mr Roberge's company.
Pol Col Arun said Mr Roberge had set up Work West (Thailand) Co in Chiang Mai. A Thai national worked there as the manager. The company had already shut its doors. Mr Roberge allegedly told police he had set the company up but that his Thai manager had defrauded the students.