Korean POI in Jee's slay case missing

MANILA - The Korean national who collected money from the wife of slain Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo is now missing, Philippine National Police–Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) Director Senior Superintendent Glenn Dumlao said Thursday.

In the resumption of the Senate hearing on the alleged "tokhang for ransom," Dumlao identified the Korean national who served as the agent between Choi Kyung Jin and the suspects as Edward Yu-on, who was then residing in Angeles City, Pampanga.

“According to our Korean counterpart Major Lee, he (Yu-on) is nowhere to be found but he assured us na hahanapin nila at ibabalik sa amin,” he said.

Jee was abducted from his house in Friendship Plaza Village in Pampanga last October 18 by suspects who identified themselves as cops. He was then brought to Camp Crame and was killed inside a vehicle.

Dumlao revealed that after Jee's abduction came to the knowledge of Choi,

Yu-on approached her and initially asked for P500,000 that he said will be paid to the PNP-AKG as well as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to fast track the investigation of his husband's kidnapping.

He said Yu-on asked for another P300,000 in two trenches days after the first payment was made, claiming it was intended for "the former AKG director."

Dumlao said Yu-on was invited for questioning in their office as he was considered a person of interest.

“In-encourage [ni Yu-on si Choi] to pay the ransom immediately so her husband will be released. Sinamahan pa nila sa payoff area,” he added.

Choi admitted earlier that she paid P5 million to her husband's abductors without coordinating with the authorities.