DOJ starts probe on kidnap of casino high-rollers

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to start today its preliminary investigation on the criminal charges filed against 44 foreigners allegedly involved in a kidnap-for-ransom group preying on high-rollers in casinos in Metro Manila, an official said yesterday.

The foreigners – 42 Chinese and two Malaysians – were charged with kidnapping before the DOJ, according to Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente.

Authorities said 14 of them opted to undergo preliminary investigation instead of inquest proceedings.

Morente said the suspects were apprehended by operatives of the BI and Anti-Kidnapping Group of the Philippine National Police during a raid in Pasay City on July 18.

A Singaporean woman, Wu Yan, was rescued during the operation.

Among those arrested was Chinese Zhang Fuxing, believed to be the leader of the group, and Malaysians Ng Yu Meng and Goh Kok Keong.

Another cohort of the suspects remains at large, Morente said.

The three were identified by Wu as among those who kidnapped her at the Solaire Resorts and Casino in Pasay.

The victim said she was brought to the nearby Bayview International Towers where she was held and beaten up by the suspects.

Wu said the kidnappers threatened to kill her if she would not pay $180,000 (P9 million) for her release.

Morente said he ordered the BI legal division to initiate deportation proceedings against the suspects.

He said the 44 foreigners would be deported back to their countries after they failed to show legal immigration documents.

“They will be under the BI custody after we have charged them for violating our immigration laws,” he said.

“We will deport them after they are convicted and have served their sentences,” Morente added.

Bobby Raquepo, acting head of the BI fugitive search unit, said the suspects were members of a ring responsible for the series of kidnappings of foreigners who were high-roller casino players in recent months.

“Initial investigation showed that all of them entered the country as tourists, although four of the Chinese suspects have no record of travel to the Philippines,” Raquepo said.