Bureau of Immigration agents have arrested two South Koreans wanted in their country for alleged involvement in large-scale fraud.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente identified the suspects as Son Hyungjun, 36, and Choi Jong Bok, 40, who were nabbed during separate operations conducted in Pampanga.
BI-FSU acting chief Rendel Ryan Sy said Son, who was collared in Angeles City, was tagged as a member of a telecommunications fraud syndicate that defrauded its victims of more than 22 million won, estimated at $18,000.
Son, who was subject of an arrest warrant from the Busan district court in South Korea, and his cohorts allegedly operated their illicit trade from their headquarters in China where they made calls to their victims in Korea through voice phishing.
On the other hand, Choi, who was caught in Porac, Pampanga, was allegedly wanted for swindling a compatriot of more than P7 million in a fraudulent stock investment scheme.
A warrant for Choi’s arrest was issued by the Nambu district court in Seoul where he was facing fraud charges.
Sy said the passports of the two South Koreans have been revoked, thus they were considered undocumented aliens subject for immediate deportation.
A check of their travel records also revealed that both of them were already overstaying. They last arrived here as tourists in 2018.
The suspects are currently detained at the BI warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.—Vito Barcelo
