The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced the arrest three South Korean fugitives wanted by authorities in their country for setting up and operating illegal gambling sites online.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente identified trio as Cho Chang Joo, 26, Beom Dawon, 26, and Hong Changwoo, 29, who were arrested on Tuesday afternoon in a condominium unit in Bgy. San Lorenzo, Makati City by operatives from the Bureau’s Fugitve Search Unit (FSU).
The three were arrested on the strength of an order that Morente issued, at the request of South Korean authorities which informed the BI that the said Koreans are already undocumented aliens due to the cancellation of their passports.
BI FSU Chief Bobby Raquepo reported that the three are subject of an arrest warrant issued by a district court in Busan, South Korea where they were charged with violating their country’s law against illegal gambling.
“The three will face deportation and will be sent back to their country of origin to face Korean courts,” said Morente. “They will likewise be included in the Bureau’s blacklist, effectively barring them from re-entering the country,” he added.
It was also learned that the South Koreans are subject of a red notice issued by the Interpol in 2019.
BI nabs Korean trio wanted for illegal gambling in Makati
According to information gathered from the BI, the three were charged with violating South Korea’s National Sports Promotion Act for allegedly creating gambling sites in the internet.
South Korean prosecutors alleged that their racket started in 2019 when they opened sports betting websites which enabled them to earn money from online gamblers.
If convicted, the trio, who will be detained at the BI Warden Facility in Taguig City pending implementation of deportation, may be sentenced to a maximum jail term of seven years.
BI is also set to deport a South Korean national wanted by authorities in Seoul for swindling and defrauding four of his compatriots.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente identified the captured alien fugitive as 41-year-old Kim Byunggon, who is now detained at the BI Detention Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.
Last June 2, operatives from the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) arrested the Korean inside a mall in Bgy. Apas, Cebu City, on the strength of a mission order which Morente issued at the request of South Korean authorities.
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