South Korean held at NAIA over gambling website

MANILA, Philippines — A South Korean fugitive was briefly detained at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Friday for allegedly running an illegal online gambling website based in Manila.

An Byeonghyeon, 27, was being processed at the NAIA Terminal 1’s immigration counter when the “primary inspector discovered that he is in the Interpol’s (red notice) list,” according to Bureau of Immigration (BI) port operations acting chief Grifton Medina.

An “was also traveling with a stolen travel document,” Medina added, but he was allowed to board his flight after the BI informed authorities in Seoul, where he was arrested upon his arrival.

An is accused of conspiring with other South Koreans in operating an illegal online gaming website based in Manila from 2017 up to March this year, according to the BI’s Interpol unit.

The website solicited money from South Koreans who bet on the results of sports competitions.

The Busan district issued a warrant for An’s arrest on a charge of violating South Korea’s national sports promotion act. He faces a maximum prison term of 10 years if convicted.