Thiruvananthapuram: A group of 22 women from the coastal villages of the city has levelled an allegation of visa fraud against Thumba resident Antony Gomez.Antony, who approached the women from Anchuthengu, Mayyanadu, Perumathura and Valiyathura, promised them jobs as caretakers of elderly in Israel. He also allegedly duped a sum of Rs 3,50,000 from each of them as expense for visa, tickets and immigration.All papers were cleared and they were taken via Antony’s travel agency AJ Travels based at Menamkulam on September 21 but they were flown to Jordan and Egypt instead of Israel. Apparently the visa was rejected by Israel and the women, who were unaware about the cancellation, had been left stuck in Jordan and Egypt for 10 days.Upon their return, the women filed a case against Antony at Anchuthengu and Kazhakkoottam stations as well as with the district collector and city police commissioner. Anchuthengu SI said that the investigation on the case is progressing.Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Leena of Anchuthengu, who was one of the women who were cheated by the visa agent, said that they have no option other than suicide if Antony won’t repay them. “Most of us are in poverty and are living along the coast. My husband is a fisherman and the Rs3lakh we gave him was mostly gathered as loans from many places. The opportunity that was promised lured us with hope of a better life abroad,” she said.According to Sajana S of Anchuthengu, Antony is evading their efforts to get in touch with him. “Antony’s daughter is getting married and therefore he is evading us . He also went to the court and got an injunction order which restricts us from entering his house premises until his daughter’s marriage is over. He intends to hold a grand wedding ceremony with the money he extorted from us,” she said.

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