Korean telco fraudsters nabbed

Consequently, we’re not only able to bring these criminals to justice. We also prevented them from using our country as a refuge so they could evade prosecution for their crimes. Besides, their presence here poses a threat to our people’s welfare and safety

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Thursday reported the arrest of three South Korean fugitives wanted in Seoul for telecommunications fraud.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente identified the Korean fugitives as Lim Yeongjun, 36; Kwom Hyeoksoo, 49 and Sim Dong Woo, 49.

According to the bureau, the three were arrested last Tuesday in a joint operation by the BI’s fugitive search unit (FSU) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) inside the office of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at the Southern Police District (SPD) Headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City where they were taken into custody by policemen earlier.

Morente said the Koreans, who are all overstaying aliens, are subjects of red notices from the Interpol and their passports have been revoked by the Korean government.

According to Morente, the three suspects cannot be deported yet as they face criminal charges for violating the 1988 Access Device Regulation Act and 2011 Anti-Cybercrime Law.

The suspects are detained at the custodial facility of the CIDG while undergoing criminal investigation prior to the filing of complaints against them in court.

“It is only after these criminal charges are resolved, and upon completion of service of sentence. If they are convicted, then we will deport them,” Morente added.

Information obtained from the BI Interpol Unit reveal the fugitives operated clandestine call centers in Manila, which they used to trick and defraud their victims.

They allegedly deceive their victims by pretending as agents of lending institutions and persuade them to repay their loans in advance to avail of lower interest.