CEBU CITY – A Korean died and his compatriots were arrested after they allegedly shot it out with policemen who responded to a robbery alarm in a posh subdivision in Barangay Banilad here on Tuesday night, April 2.
Police identified the fatality as Sun Yong Choi, 47. Arrested were Yong Hee Kim, 45, and Jun Hee Kim, 49.
TWO Koreans are taken to the Mabolo Police Station after they were arrested for allegedly robbing their compatriot in a subdivision in Cebu City on Tuesday night, April 2. (Photo from CDB of MyTVCebu)
The three Koreans, who lived in a condominium in Barangay Mabolo here, allegedly tried to rob a fellow Korean inside the Maria Luisa Subdivision.
Police Major Romeo Caacoy Jr., chief of the Mabolo Police Station, said the suspects were armed when they broke into the house of a 43-year-old Korean businesswoman. The three Koreans allegedly robbed their compatriot at gunpoint, police said.
The robbery was foiled when the Mabolo Police Station received a call informing them that armed men broke into one of the houses in the subdivision.
“We received a call coming from the subdivision that there were armed persons in the area. Our operatives, together with the Special Weapons and Tactics, Regional Intelligence Division, and City Intelligence Unit, immediately responded,” Caacoy said.
Caacoy said they tried to convince the intruders to surrender but the armed men resisted and fired, resulting in a shootout in which a policeman was wounded.
He said two firearms were recovered as well as P200,000 cash believed to have been taken from the Korean businesswoman. Two pieces of expensive wristwatches and assorted jewelry worth around P25 million were also recovered.
Caacoy said further investigation will be conducted to gather more information about the suspects.
An official of the Korean Consulate visited the Mabolo Police Station on Wednesday morning, April 3, to inquire about the investigation.
“We will investigate to determine what kind of businesses they are operating here or if they are working here,” said Caacoy.
The arrested Koreans, who refused to comment on their arrest when reporters tried to interview them, will be charged with robbery with frustrated homicide.