Seventeen youth on Saturday lodged a complaint with the city Commissionerate against a placement agency in Chennai alleging that it had defrauded them.
The agency in Arumbakkam advertised about foreign jobs such as welders and fitters. The youth from Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and other states were promised high-paying jobs in Brunei.
Over 26 youth paid ₹66,000 each to the agency and they were taken to Brunei on December 14.
They alleged that they were not given the promised jobs. Instead, they were forced to clean, and other menial work. They alleged that they wereforced to work under horrid conditions and stay in cramped rooms.
The 17 managed to return India while nine stayed back. They claimed the agency did not refund the amount.