By Martin Sadongdong
A Korean man allegedly involved in telephone fraud was arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Ermita, Manila after he abducted his compatriot who found out about his illegal business, authorities disclosed Wednesday.
Brigadier General Jonnel Estomo, head of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), identified the suspect as Na Jin Suk, 36.
Na was nabbed by the police in a condominium unit along N. Concepcion Street on Tuesday after he abducted 19-year-old Kim Byeong Mo.
According to Estomo, Kim arrived in the Philippines on Sunday, January 19, after getting offers for a job from his college senior.
Estomo said Kim was welcomed by Na and two other unidentified Koreans upon his arrival.
However, Kim later found out that Na's business, where the former was supposed to work, was involved in illegal transactions including telephone fraud with an aim to extort money from their victims.
Kim then called his mother in Korea to ask for help but Na learned about the discovery of his illegal business.
Kim was held in a condo unit but unknown to Na, the victim's mother already made coordinations with the Korean police to rescue her son.
Estomo said Korean Police Liaison Chief Inspector Hyosang Kwon and Jinsu Choi from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea sought assistance from the PNP AKG Luzon Field Unit (LFU) to trace and launch a rescue operation for Kim on Tuesday morning.
A plan was hatched by the authorities and around 6 p.m. on the same day, Kim was saved from his captor and Na was arrested by the police.
Na was detained at the detention facility of the AKG office in Camp Crame, Quezon City where a charge for kidnapping was filed against him.
Meanwhile, the AKG has conducted follow up operations to determine the liability of the two other Korean nationals who may be involved in Na's illegal business.