THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced the arrest of two South Koreans wanted by authorities in their country for telecommunications and financial fraud.
In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente identified the captured fugitives as Lee Choungeon, 43, and Kim Seongku, 45, who were arrested in Metro Manila during separate operations by members of the BI Fugitive Search Unit (FSU).
Morente said Lee, who was arrested Monday morning, will soon be sent back to Korea as an order for his summary deportation was already issued against him by the BI board of commissioners for being an undesirable alien.
Lee reportedly attempted to extend his tourist visa at the BI’s main office in Intramuros, Manila when alert personnel noticed his derogatory records in their system. This prompted them to coordinate with FSU operatives to affect the arrest.
A warrant of deportation has been issued against Lee last December 3, 2021 after being tagged as fugitive following information from Korean authorities.
Records of the Interpol’s National Central Bureau (NCB) in Manila show that Lee is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Daejeon District Court in Hongsung, South Korea issued on April 2020.
He was allegedly charged with fraud for being a member of a syndicate that defrauds its victims of money through voice phishing.
On the other hand, Kim was arrested inside a Pasig City condominium complex on Tuesday.
Kim is wanted in South Korea, with an arrest warrant from the Seoul Central District Court issued on April 1, 2022 due to charges of electronic fraud that were filed against him.
Authorities alleged that Kim hacked into his victim’s block chain account, and stole crypto currencies and bitcoins worth over ₱613 million.
Both Koreans are detained at the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation.
