Mr. Chiu: I’m not the mastermind

HIS name was dropped by arrested suspects in a foiled car theft ring, but “Mr. Chiu” said it wasn’t true he was the mastermind.

Cho Hyun Cher alias Mr. Chiu of Maria Luisa Subdivision in Banilad showed up in the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 in Camp Sergio Osmeña yesterday to deny any role in the illegal activity and to clear his name.

Seven other Korean males were arrested this week by police following the the recover of nine carnapped Hyundai Starex vans.

Supt. Paul Labra II, Chief of Regional Intelligence Division (RID) said he earlier invited Cho to his office to shed light on the case as part of the ongoing investigation since Cho’s name and that of of a certain Mr. Lim of barangay Mactan, Lapu-Lapu came up in the investigation as the alleged masterminds.

According to Labra, Cho promised to cooperate with the police investigation and said that Mr. Lim was his business partner, without saying what kind of enterprise they had.

Labra said this information was not enough basis to arrest either of them.

He said the police would ask the assistance of local Korean communities in locating Lim and will check Bureau of Immigration on the status of both men.
Based on RID records, at least 12 Starex Van were stolen from January to February 11.

Only nine were recovered so far, including one van owned by former PBA player Ramon Fernandez.

The vehicles were stolen in Lapulapu, Mandaue, and in Mandaue City. Two of the owners were also Koreans.

The first two Starex van was seized from the possession of 27-year-old Raphael Montilla. The other seven vans were abandoned in Mandaue City.

Meanwhile, another Starex van driven by an Australian national was was apprehended by Waterfront police station during a checkpoint in Legaspi Street at 11 a.m.

The driver Andrew Compton was unable to show a driver’s license or vehicle registration papers when he was brought to Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) shortly before noon.

The van wth plate number GRM-983 passed the checkpoint slowly then sped off to S. Osmena Street prompting the police to chase it.