Maldivian medical students report fraud by overseas agency

Reports have surfaced of Maldivian medical students being defrauded of large sums of money in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and the Philippines.

H & Associates LLP, a Maldives-based law firm, said on Tuesday that it is assisting victims who have come forward with complaints. According to the firm, the students were targeted by an agency operating under the names Zeed International, Zeed Consultancy and Zeedl Co.

The agency is alleged to have charged students three to four times the actual tuition fees set by medical colleges and training hospitals. In some cases, fees collected were not paid to designated institutions. H & Associates said the false information provided by the agency also caused visa problems for students, with some deported as a result.

The firm added that the agency had met Maldivian students in Sri Lanka, including at a presentation held in the office of the Cricket Board of Maldives, and had also advertised in public areas to attract recruits.

H & Associates has urged students not to make tuition fee payments unless directly verified with the relevant universities. The firm further advised against any financial dealings with Zeed and called on the police, the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Sports to investigate the matter.

The law firm said it would provide free legal support to affected students.