Fake Korean journalist nabbed
By Jun Ramirez
Operatives of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) have arrested a Korean who swindled his compatriots more than 42.2 million won ($390,000) by pretending to be a journalist.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said that 39-year-old Yun Jong Sik is set to be deported following his apprehension last week in Guadalupe, Makati City, by operatives from the Bureau’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) last week.
According to BI spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval, Yun is the subject of four outstanding arrest warrants issued by Korean courts where he was charged with defrauding large sums of money. He has been hiding in the country for almost ten years.
One of his pending cases involved two Korean women whom he enticed to give him money via the Internet by introducing himself as a journalist who graduated from a prestigious US university.
“He was charged with receiving more than 42.2 million won from the victims through deceit and lies which he committed on 16 occasions between August and September 2013,” Sandoval said.
Morente issued the mission order for Yun’s arrest at the request of the Korean Embassy which informed the BI about his outstanding cases.
“We will not allow criminals to use the Philippines to hide from justice. He will be deported, and will be banned from returning to the country,” the BI chief added.
Sandoval shared that the report from BI Fugitive Search Unit Chief Bobby Raquepo showed that Yun arrived in the country on Oct. 2, 2008 and has not left since then.
Yun’s Korean passport has already expired, which meant he had been illegally staying in the country as an undocumented alien for the past several years.
The Korean is now detained at the BI Detention Center in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig pending his deportation.