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 on the 18th floor of the Amarin Plaza building in Pathumwan district, Bangkok, on Wednesday.
His apprehension followed complaints from university students. One of them told police Mr Roberge, through his company, offered him an apprenticeship at the Pittsburgh Marriott hotel in Pennsylvania at a wage of US$14 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, and a wage of $8 per hour. 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 province. A Thai national worked as the manager. The company had since shut its doors.
The Chiang Mai court issued a warrant for his arrest on July 4, 2017. Mr Roberge told police that had he opened the company, but his Thai manager had defrauded the students.