A fugitive South Korean who is reportedly involved in an investment fraud in his country was nabbed by combined agents of the police Anti-Transnational Crime Unit and Bureau of Immigration at his temporary safe house in Muntinlupa City on Tuesday.
The ATCU identified the South Korean as Oh Seung Jo, 51, who was arrested at Acacia Hotel located at 5400 East Asia Drive corner Commerce Avenue, Gulon Vest Corporate City in Alabang, Muntinlupa City at 10:35 p.m.
The arrest was made possible through an Interpol red notice and a BI arrest order.
Oh’s arrest brought to four the number of South Korean fugitives collared by Philippine authorities for similar offenses.
Last April 3, three South Koreans—Yong Ho Jeon and couples Yam Sum and Yang Muyung Ock Yeo, were arrested at their safe houses in Makati City and Benguet. Based on records, the three stashed about P6 billion in Korean won from their compatriots in a lending scam.
“Jeon and his group is believed to have joined with other Korean groups in the country which are engaged in extortion, kidnapping, contract killing, protection racket and other criminal activities,” PNP chief Ronaldo dela Rosa said.
The Atcu said that in 2015, Oh established a company called Ticket Line Co. Ltd. where he named himself as chief executive officer).
The Atcu said the suspect was involved in an investment scam which promises a two percent interest per month for its clients.
Records showed that Oh was able to stash an estimated 72, 342, 690, 529 won or a total of P3 billion pesos from several fellow Koreans.
The Atcu added that Oh fled to the country sometime in 2016 and continued his illegal activity, using fictitious names and moving to different hotels to evade detection until his arrest Tuesday.
Dela Rosa said Koreans perpetrating illegal activities in their homeland, is using the Philippines as a safe haven.
“They are escaping from their crimes committed in Korea so they are hiding here in the Philippines.”
The BI is processing Oh’s immediate deportation.