Kidnapping: 43 arrested foreigners believed to be part of loan-shark syndicate — Manila
MANILA: Philippine police said on Thursday they had arrested 43 foreigners for kidnapping a Singaporean woman at a casino resort in the capital, highlighting security concerns that have scared high- stakes gamblers away from Manila.
Police said the gang, including people from China and Southeast Asia, was believed to be a loanshark syndicate targeting foreign high-rollers, with 11 similar cases reported since 2015.
The Philippines is one of the fastest- growing casino hubs in Asia, after Macau and Singapore, with the opening of several resorts over the past two years.
But security remains a major concern that has deterred bigspending gamblers from China, wary about kidnapping and extortion.
The 48-year- old Singaporean woman was losing heavily when she was approached and befriended by three men and a woman at the Solaire casino on July 17 who lent her money, police said.
They later invited the woman to another casino but she was instead taken to a hotel where she was mistreated and video of her was taken which her captors showed to her family with a demand for US$180,000 for her release.
National police chief Ronald dela Rosa said the woman was rescued the next day.
Kidnapping complaints had been filed against two Malaysians and 41 Chinese nationals in connection with the case, de la Rosa said.
Solaire, which is owned by Bloomberry Resorts Corp , said it did not tolerate loan sharks and was coordinating with and supporting authorities in the fight against crime.
“Solaire continues to closely safeguard all its patrons to ensure their safety from unscrupulous personalities and activities,” it said in a statement. — Reuters