PNP transnational crime unit nabs 3 for allegedly duping Japanese traders

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group arrested in an entrapment operation Monday night three persons who allegedly duped Japanese traders to invest in a non-existent business.

CIDG-Anti Transnational Crime Unit chief Superintendent Roque Merdegia, Jr. identified the suspects as Karen Suico, 42, native of Davao City, and presently residing on Adriatico Street in Malate, Manila; Ralphael Alisuag, 26, native of Alitagtag, Batangas, and presently residing at Kokoru KTV Bar on Adriatico Street in Malate, Manila; and Mark Anthony Dela Cruz, 27, resident of Block 21 Lot 19, Kapalaran Street, San Roque, Navotas City.

They will be charged with violation of Article 315 Revised Penal Code or syndicated estafa.

Victims Masanobu Saito, Tsunoda Masayoshi, and Okamoto Kazuhiro, all Japanese businessmen, complained that in June 2017, the suspects duped them to invest P11 million in a transport/taxi corporation which they eventually learned to be non-existing.

The suspects initially wanted to get P20 million from the victims.

“After six months ay tinatanong na ng Hapon ang kanilang investment. May ipinapakitang rehistro ng GO SAI TO car taxi company but apparently itong taxi company na ito ay hindi nag e-exist at di totoo. Nagduda na itong mga complainant na sila ay naloko kaya nagpatulong na sila sa CIDG para sa isang entrapment operations kasi hiningan sila ulit ng balanseng P9 million,” Merdegia said Tuesday.

The suspects were arrested after they received from the complainants P9 million as "boodle money."

Merdegia said they will coordinate with the Japanese Embassy to determine if there are other Japanese nationals victimized by the group.

“In the mean time, we call on other possible victims of the suspects to come out and identify the arrested suspects and file additional complaints,” he said. — BM, GMA News