BI nabs 6 Chinese fugitives involved in online fraud

MANILA, Philippines — Six Chinese fugitives involved in online fraud and are wanted by authorities in China, were arrested by agents of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in the cities of Makati and Pasay.

Immigration chief Jaime Morente on Wednesday said fugitives Wang Yaru, Yu Ming Wei, Wei Chunxue, Li Zhi Cheng, Lin Huzi, and Zhou Zhongyi were all arrested last August 30.

Morente said five of the fugitives were nabbed at a condominium in Makati. The other fugitive, was nabbed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 as he was about to leave the country.

According to Morente, the arrest of the six high-profile fugitives was done in coordination with Chinese authorities.

“We will continue to strengthen our partnership with our counterparts abroad in going after foreign fugitives who hide in our country to evade prosecution and punishment for their crimes,” Morente said in a statement.

Immigration Intelligence Office Bobby Raquepo explained that the Chinese fugitives have conspired to defraud their victims online through a fake mobile application called “Fast 3 Lottery.”

According to Raquepo, the application enticed hundreds of Chinese nationals to place bets which the suspects only “diverted to their own pockets.”

Raquepo said five of the six fugitives arrived in the country only recently, while the other one arrived in the Philippines last year as a tourist, Raquepo added.

The six Chinese fugitives will be deported by the BI for being undesirable and undocumented aliens. Their passports will also be revoked by the bureau.

In addition, the fugitives will also be banned from entering the Philippines and their names will be included in the blacklist of the Bureau of Immigration.  /muf