BI set to deport Korean fugitive

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will deport a 38-year-old Korean wanted for fraud in his country, an official announced yesterday.

Jang Hongsuk was arrested by immigration agents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last week, according to BI port operations division chief Grifton Medina.

Jang is being held at the BI detention facility at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City pending his deportation.

Jang was intercepted at the NAIA Terminal 3 while he was about to board an Air Asia flight to Seoul on Aug. 9, Medina said.

“He was in the BI list of wanted foreign fugitives when he booked his flight,” Medina said.

BI-NAIA border control and intelligence unit chief Rommel Tacorda said Jang was placed in the bureau’s alert list after the Korean embassy informed them about his presence in the Philippines. 

BI records showed that Jang arrived in the Philippines on Feb. 10 or six months after he allegedly committed fraud.

Seoul authorities said Jang conspired with other suspects in defrauding three victims of more than 8.2 million won or $6,700 in August last year.

Jang allegedly introduced himself as a financial investment advisor and enticed the victims to transfer money to the bank accounts of the suspects. – Robertzon Ramirez