By Jun Ramirez
Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents have arrested in Cebu two South Korean brothers wanted by their government for swindling their compatriots who were enticed with high interest payments.
Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente
(Ali Vicoy / MANILA BULLETIN)
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente identified the alien fugitives as Choi Sunghyun, 32, and Choi Sungmin, 35.
They were arrested on Friday in their house on Fortuna Street in Mandaue City by members of the bureau’s fugitive search unit (FSU).
Morente said the siblings are subjects of red notices from the Interpol as they are both wanted by the Korean police for fraud.
He added that the fugitives will be sent back to Korea as soon as the BI board of commissioners issues the order for their summary deportation.
The South Korean embassy disclosed that between February and April 2011 Choi Sung Hyun on eight different occasions received from his victim a total of 360-million won.
He allegedly promised the victim that his money would earn a three-percent profit if it were invested in his business.
On the other hand, Choi Sungmin is wanted for enticing his victims to invest $40,000 in a nonexistent business venture, using the money instead to settle debts he owed to other individuals.
BI-FSU chief Bobby Raquepo said the brothers are overstaying and undocumented as their passports were already canceled by the Korean government.
Raquepo also said that while in Cebu the Chois operated a diving center business in Punta Engaño, Mactan, Cebu.
It was learned that Choi Sungmin was already issued a deportation order by the BI in 2015 while his brother was charged with immigration law violation before the bureau’s board of commissioners.