CIDG arrests 3 Korean fugitives
PHILIPPINE National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) director, Major General Eliseo DC Cruz on Sunday announced the arrest of three South Korean nationals wanted for telephone fraud in their native country and in Manila.
The official said the three who were identified as Sanghun Paek,41; Kim Kyungmo,32; and Song Jongmin,40, are believed to have defrauded at least P38 million from their victims in the Philippines.
He said the three were arrested by agents of the CIDG Anti-Transnational Crime Unit in coordination with the Korean Desk and the Fugitive Search Unit of the Bureau of Immigration.
Maj. Gen. Cruz said the trio are the subject of an Interpol red notice for telephone fraud specifically voice phishing on Thursday in separate operations in Parañaque and Quezon City.
Paek was tracked down in his residence in Filinvest Classic Estate in Barangay San Isidro, Parañaque City while his fellow accused were arrested in their rented house in Northview 1 Subdivision in Batasan Hills, Q.C.
“The three are fugitives from South Korea who have been hiding in the country where they have set up their illicit activities,” Maj. Gen. Cruz said.
The PNP-CIDG chief said they found out that last April, Paek set up their headquarters in Manila where his staff disguise themselves as bankers in Korea.
The suspect was said to have earned P25.6 million from his targets while the two others managed to trick their South Korean compatriots of at least P15 million.
Maj. Gen. Cruz said the suspects pretended to be staff members of the Kookmin Bank in Korea and using their advanced computer skills were able to gather the personal information of their victims.
They later offered low-interest loans to the victims enabling them to swindle a total of 196,500 Korean Won or roughly P14.4 million alone.
The trio were initially taken to the CIDG Anti-Transnational Crime Unit for booking procedures before being turned over to the BI warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.
“There is no place here in the country for foreigners who engage in criminal activities. The CIDG will ensure that they will be arrested and held liable for their crimes,” said Maj. Gen. Cruz as he congratulated his men for arresting the wanted Koreans.
