Melbourne: A Filipino restaurant manager
in Australia has been arrested for allegedly accepting bribes
over 20,000 Australian dollars from 15 Indian students seeking
jobs at a fast food outlet in Sydney.
The 47-year-old accused, who was in charge of hiring
staff at a fast food joint `Hungary Jacks` between May 2008
and February 2010, has been charged with 14 counts of
corruption for allegedly demanding bribes from the 15 who are
all Indian students, according to The Daily Telegraph.
The students, all in their 20s, allegedly paid
between 500 to 3500 Australian dollars to gain part-time work
but some received only little work and soon left their jobs
whereas one victim did not receive a job at all.
During his tenure he received over 20,000 Australian
dollars in bribe.
According to Sydney Morning Herald, the accused led
the Indian students to believe paying for employment was the
usual process to gain work in Australia.
"As international students they [the victims] may
not be familiar with industrial relations in this country and
it was put to them this was the process to be followed to gain
employment," Police official Simon Hardman said adding "(The
victims), not knowing any better, they did as they were told."
Police allege the staff who paid the man to gain
work recommended him to other students also seeking
employment.
Police believe there might be more alleged victims
and asked them to come forward.
Hardman said there were no allegations the students
were working illegally in Australia.
Hunger Jacks` said in a statement that it had
co-operated fully with the police and continued to do so.
The fast-food giant added that it would "continue to
employ international students in line with their visa
conditions and that it greatly valued their contribution".
Meanwhile, the acccused was released on bail and is to
appear in court next month.
-PTI
