Koreans released on bail

CEBU, Philippines - Suspected carnappers Korean nationals Kim Kyung Hwan, Won Seok Lee and Jang Hyun Lee were released yesterday after posting bail of P180,000 each.

Kim is the operator of Junghap Car Distributor and was identified as the alleged mastermind in the series of Hyundai Starex vans carnapping in the Metro Cebu while Won and Jang were his business partners.

Police arrested the three in Barangay Casuntingan in Mandaue City after they were identified as the ones who boarded a stolen silver grey Starex van.

The van with plate number JEH 875 was owned by Engr. Francisco Perater and was later abandoned in Barangay Casuntingan.

Second Executive Judge Enriqueta Belarmino of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 57 in Cebu City signed the release order.

On Thursday, police filed a criminal complaint against them and during the inquest proceedings, the three Koreans, assisted by their counsel Bienvinido Baring, chose not to undergo a preliminary investigation.

Assistant City Prosecutor Liceria Lofranco-Rabillas recommended the filing of case before the court which was approved by City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon.

Baring told the media that he believes his clients are innocent.

“We will prove the innocence of my clients regardless of what the public

believes, of what the police believe. If you listen to their story, there’s a different version and I am convinced of their innocence,” he said.

Baring said his clients are legitimate businessmen engaged in selling surplus vehicles and they are not members of a syndicate.

Investigative and Detective Management Bureau (IDMB) Chief P C/Insp. Michael Anthony Bastes of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) said that they are monitoring another car distributor in Metro Cebu that is believed to be selling carnapped vehicles.

Bastes said the statements of the employees of Junghap Car Distributors can be used against the three Koreans.

Roldan Alesna and his two employees  executed affidavits that they are not aware of the illegal activities of their employer, Kim, and his two business partners, Won and Jang.

Alesna, the manager of the car shop said he noticed the Hyundai Starex vans since January but he was not aware that these were stolen.

Alesna said he did not ask where the vehicles came from as he only followed the instructions of his boss.

He said Kim instructed him to replace the engines of the two Starex vans kept in the shop and to dismantle and bury the original engines.

He said they thought the vans were owned by Kim’s Korean friends who frequented their shop.

Meanwhile, Bureau of Immigration 7 Director Casimiro Madarang III said he has yet to receive an official request from the police to check the records of the suspects.

Initial check revealed that one of the suspects has been overstaying in the country for a few days.

Madarang said that he cannot yet give the full details of the check he conducted as he needs the police to give him the complete personal details of the Koreans.

Prior to the arrest of Kim, Won and Jang, two other Koreans and a Filipino nurse were also arrested.

Kim Jhe Young, alias Leo “Andy” Lim and Hong Seo Yong, alias Luis, 32, were also allegedly involved in the series of carnapping of Hyundai Starex vans since January.

Raphael Montilla who allegedly acted as their driver and looked for potential buyers was also arrested.  Nine vans were recovered after their arrest.

Police said Montillo’s willingness to stand as witness against the two Koreans will strengthen their case.

“Montillo has the least participation so he agreed to execute an affidavit stating that he only sells the vans and two Koreans do the carnapping,” said Chief Insp. George Ylanan, head of the Regional Special Operations Group that arrested Kim and Hong.

Ylanan said they belong to a big syndicate.

The Police Regional Office 7 has alerted all police units in Metro Cebu and directed them to flag down Starex vans with suspicious plate numbers.

“We found out na kani nga grupo, ang gidak-on ani niya starting from the carnapper gyud is Korean, ang dealer is Korean, ang place diin gipang-chop-chop or gipang-change color ang mga sakyanan, Korean gihapon ang tag-iya. So this group is composed of Koreans,” said Ylanan.

Right now, Ylanan said they are building up the case to gather more evidence to pin down the alleged masterminds of the syndicate, Cho Hyun Cher alias “Mr. Chu” and one “Mr. Lim.”

Cho visited PRO 7 last Wednesday to clear his name.

Police urged the owners of the recovered vehicles to file separate charges against the suspects.  (FREEMAN)