By Martin Sadongdong
Two Chinese nationals, who allegedly duped a compatriot of P1 million in an investment scam, were arrested by the police in an entrapment operation in Makati City Monday night.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Arnold Ibay, commander of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR), identified the suspects as Yang Xianghai and Li Wu Chen alias "Acao," both of legal age.
Initial investigation disclosed that the suspects lured the victim, who requested anonymity for security purposes, to enter into an investment deal with them sometime in January 2019.
Eventually, the unsuspecting victim invested P1 million with the suspects, only to find out later that he fell prey to an investment scam.
The victim also told the police that he started getting threats on his life from the suspects should he report the incident to authorities.
On the first week of May, the suspects contacted the victim to demand P150,000 in exchange for his safety and security.
However, the victim sought police assistance until an entrapment operation was hatched.
The operation resulted in the arrest of Yang at around 6:30 p.m. in a mall on General Luna St., Makati City, but Li managed to escape.
A follow-up operation was immediately conducted until they traced and arrested Li on Seaside Boulevard, Pasay City.
Confiscated from the suspects were P10,000 worth of dusted money and 50 bills that consisted the boodle money.
The suspects were detained at the CIDG NCR in Camp Crame, Quezon City where they are awaiting charges for robbery-extortion.