South Korean wanted for swindling arrested in Pampanga

MANILA, Philippines — A South Korean wanted in his country for “swindling and defrauding his two compatriots of large sums of money” was arrested in Pampanga, the Bureau of Immigration reported on Tuesday.

BI Fugitive Search Unit Chief Bobby Raquepo identified the fugitive as Lee Beomseok, 42. He said Lee was arrested on Thursday inside a restaurant in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente issued the mission order for Lee’s arrest after South Korean authorities in Manila informed BI that Lee was subjected to a criminal investigation for fraud in his country.

Lee was an “undocumented alien” after his passport was revoked by the Korean government, according to Morente. He was also the subject of an Interpol blue notice issued in March 2020.

Lee is now detained at the BI detention facility in Taguig City as he awaits an order for his deportation.

Morente said the South Korean will also be banned for re-entering the Philippines.

“He will be placed in the immigration blacklist and banned from re-entering the Philippines,” the BI chief said in a statement.

BI records showed that in September 2013, Lee received 25 million won or about $22,000 from his first victim after persuading him to lend money for his alleged restaurant business. In 2014, he also enticed another victim to lend him an amount of 280 million won or $248,000, according to the bureau. — Liezelle Soriano Roy, Trainee

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EDV