3 Koreans wanted for loan fraud arrested in Cebu City

Three Koreans wanted in their home country for loan fraud have been arrested by operatives of the Bureau of Immigration’s Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU) in Cebu City. 

According to John Consulta’s exclusive report in “24 Oras” on Thursday, there are Interporl red notices issued against two of the foreigners, while the third was using a fake ID identifying him as a Filipino citizen.

They were arrested on a golf course, where they had been playing a round.

“Agad tayong nag-deploy ng tracker team at natunton natin ang pinagtataguan nila. Nalaman natin na madalas silang maglaro ng golf sa isang area dito sa Cebu. At nang matukoy ng ating mga operatiba na nandun sila sa area, agad nilang pinuntahan ang mga subject fugitives natin,” said BI-FSU chief Rendel Sy. 

(We immediately deployed a tracker team and we traced their hiding place. We found out that they often play golf at a location here in Cebu. And when our operatives confirmed they were in the area, they immediately went there to arrest our subject fugitives.) 

The Koreans were hunted by authorities because of their use of fake identities and documents for their modus operandi.

“Sila ay wanted sa Korea dahil sa panloloko or sa loan fraud scheme. Sinasabi na kumita sila ng mahigit sa P120 million sa scheme na ito,” said Sy. 

(They are wanted in Korea for fraud or a loan fraud scheme. It is said that they earned over P120 million from this scheme.) 

Meanwhile, a 59-year-old Japanese man was arrested in another operation in Cagayan de Oro City for hiding in the Philippines for a decade following an assault charge in his homeland. 

“Ten years na at matagal nang nagtatago sa kasong assault. Sinasabi na may hiniraman siya ng pera. At nang hindi siya napahiram ay binugbog niya na nagtamo ng malubhang tama ang biktima,” said Sy. 

(It's been ten years, and he has been hiding for a long time over an assault case. It is said that he borrowed money from someone. And when he wasn't lent the money, he beat up the victim, who suffered severe injuries.) 

GMA Integrated News is trying to get comments from the arrested foreigners, who are now subject to deportation. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BM, GMA Integrated News