Tell your friend to take the advice given here above this post of mine.
Only thing I can add is not to send any more seed money for businesses here in the R.P to anyone.

Once they know he cannot qualify for a spouse visa, the request for money will come in different forms.. 8 grand!!

C'mon ... it's about the most blatant and biggest red flag I have ever heard of!
That said I`d be interested to know what kind of "businesses" they attempted..

Many of us Kano`s have had a go at the odd business here and many of us have watched them go bankrupt..Nothing wrong with that ... it's just part of a learning curve. Just LEARN and move on!

Your mate will not like reading this thread as it's his pride at stake and that's understandable..

The only thing he has done wrong in my book is to trust and love his partner as he should..

The problem is, there's nothing that I have read about her or her cohorts that make me doubt that they will drain every last brass cent from him until they move on.

EIGHT THOUSAND POUNDS!!!!!
Still can't believe it!

Best move he ever made, was deciding to have you for a friend.