A convicted Taiwanese illegal drugs trader, who escaped once during his trial, and again when he was detained at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City, has been recaptured by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
In a statement issued on Tuesday, August 2, the NBI said its Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (NBI-TFAID) has arrested Frank Chua, who is also known as s Tsai Jung Shui and Tsai Fan Yin.
“On July 28, 2022, after over 18 years of freedom, Frank Chua was arrested by NBI-TFAID in Sampaloc, Manila,” the NBI said.
“Frank Chua admitted that he was the same person arrested for drug offense several times,” it added.
Chua was first arrested by NBI-TFAID on Aug. 10, 1989 after he and several others were caught smuggling 58 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, in Ilocos Sur.
However, Chua and his co-accused managed to escape from the Vigan Provincial Jail on March 22, 1990 while trial on their case was ongoing, the NBI said..
Despite the escape, the regional trial court (RTC) in Candon, Ilocos Sur proceeded with the trial and on Oct. 7, 1994 convicted Chua and his co-accused. They were all sentenced to reclusion perpetua, life imprisonment, for violation of Section 14 Republic Act 6425, the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972.
On July 4, 2003, Chua was rearrested by NBI-TFAID at Ding Ho Restaurant, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, and was committed to the NBP.
The NBI said its TFAID tried to visit Chua at the NBP to get more information about illegal drugs activities but were prevented by NBP officials who claimed “he did not want to talk to anyone, even to his own lawyer.”
“This led to suspicion that Frank Chua may no longer be inside the NBP and the action of some NBP officials was just a cover-up to hide the true whereabouts of Frank Chua,” it said.
“Unknown to the NBI and other law enforcement authorities, Frank Chua, while serving his time at the NBP, was confined at the Metropolitan Hospital in Binondo, Manila but escaped therefrom on Feb. 28, 2004. No Alert Notice or Request for Manhunt of the escaped convict Frank Chua was sent to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Immigration (BI), NBI, and other law enforcement authorities,” it added.