A 57-year-old woman fell into jail after pretending to be an employee of the Bureau of Immigration and charging her foreign victim P110,000 for speedy visa processing.
In a report by John Consulta on G MA News “24 Oras,” the suspect was identified as 57-year-old Melinda Pandey.
A video shows Pandey and the complainant meeting at a coffee shop opposite the Bureau of Immigration.
Agents of the NBI Anti-Fraud Division rushed when the suspect obtained the P10,000 marked money.
“Nagpanggap na aktuwal na immigrations employee, and because of this marami siyang napaniwala kasama itong complainant natin na nagpo-process ng kaniyang dokumento at nagbigay ng pera sa ating subject,” said Palmer Mallari, chief of NBI Anti-Fraud Division.
According to the victim, he talked to the suspect about processing his 9G visa or pre-arranged employment visa for foreigners.
Woman pretends to be BI employee, stole P100K from foreigner
Only P50,000 to P60,000 should be charged but the suspect asked for P110,000 to expedite the processing.
In November of 2020, the foreigner gave the money, but he only received promises from the suspect. He was not able to return to their country when his mother died.
“She told me she is working inside immigration, that’s why I thought ‘If she is working inside immigration, this is good, so I can trust her,'” said the victim “Murad.”
“I lost more money, more time, already waiting one year. I can’t believe myself what I did,” the victim added.
Pandey vehemently denied the accusations.
“Willing naman ako ayusin, kasi kahit noong nakaraan tumatawag din siya sa akin. Sabi ko ‘Sige don’t worry I will do your paper, sinasabi ko naman po sa kaniya.’ Hindi ko naman po puwedeng takbuhan ‘yun kasi na-receive ko po ‘yung pera,” said Pandey.
(I am willing to fix it because even in the past he also called me. I said ‘All right don’t worry I’ll do your paper, I’m telling him.’ But, unfortunately, I can’t run because I received the money.)