2 Chinese nationals implicated in kidnapping of trader nabbed

TWO Chinese nationals who were implicated in the kidnapping of a Chinese trader last May 25, 2022 in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City were arrested by police in Lapu-Lapu City on Sept. 15, 2022.

The two were believed to be cohorts of our other Chinese nationals who were killed during a police operation to rescue Chinese businessman Lyu Xingou, 70, in a subdivision in LapuLapu City last May 30.

Lin Tuanjie, 50, a resident of Aldea del Sol Subdivision in Barangay Bankal, and Ji Chenglong, 33, alias “Yang-Gou,” “Jay” or “Jayson,” of Bestwater Subdivision, Barangay Marigondon, all in Lapu-Lapu City, were arrested by virtue of warrants of arrest issued by Judge Annie Marie Militante of Regional Trial Court 7 Branch 53 in Lapu-Lapu City for kidnapping and serious illegal detention cases.

The Anti-Kidnapping Group Visayas Field Unit headed by Lt. Zozimo Ravanes Jr. nabbed Lin in his restaurant in Sitio Soong 1, Barangay Mactan at noon and Ji near the Lapu-Lapu City later at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15.

Witness

Ravanes told SunStar Cebu that Lin was positively identified by a witness as the one who rented the Toyota Innova car from a rent-a-car company that was used in kidnapping Lyu.

Ji, who reportedly owns a travel agency in Fujian, China, was the one who helped the kidnappers locate the victim.

The suspects have been living in Cebu for the past 10 years already, and used their restaurant and travel agency as fronts for criminal activity.

The kidnappers reportedly demanded P20 million in exchange for Lyu’s release.

During the rescue operation last May 30, four Chinese kidnapping suspects were killed in a shootout with the police.

Killed were Lin Heng, You Yiping, Li Fengqiang and Gong Jinming.

The victim, however, was rescued by policemen from the house rented by the suspects.