MANILA – Two fugitives from South Korea are to be deported to face prosecution for alleged crimes committed in their homeland, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Monday.
In a statement, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the two – Choi Wonchul, 59, and Lee Jihwan, 47 – were arrested in separate operations on January 7 and 8 in Metro Manila and Cebu province, respectively.
Both suspects are overstaying and subjects of red notice by the International Police (Interpol), Viado said.
“We will expel and ban them from re-entering the country for being undesirable aliens,” the BI commissioner said. “The Philippines is not a sanctuary for wanted criminals.”
Arrested along UN Avenue in Ermita, Manila on January 7, Choi is the subject of an arrest warrant from a district court in Seoul where he was charged with embezzlement and fraud.
Choi, who worked as a car dealer in 2008 in South Korea, is accused of pocketing approximately US$65,000 in payments made to him by customers. He also allegedly defrauded other victims of US$105,000 by falsely claiming he would sell their cars to interested buyers.
Choi was placed under the custody of the Manila Police District pending the resolution of his local case.
Meanwhile, BI agents arrested Lee in Talisay City, Cebu based on a warrant of arrest issued against him in November last year by the Changwon District Court after he was accused of beating and robbing a compatriot.
Lee and his accomplice allegedly attacked their victim with an axe and struck the latter in the head which resulted in multiple injuries. He also threatened and forced his victim to transfer 10 million Korean won (roughly US$6,800) into his bank account while the victim was restrained with duct tape. (PNA)