BI nabs South Korean, Chinese fugitives

MANILA, Philippines — A South Korean man said to be the leader of a telecommunications fraud ring was among the three foreigners arrested recently by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

Kim Changhan, 25, was apprehended by members of the BI Fugitive Search Unit during an operation in Makati on Feb. 17.

The BI said Changhan has a pending arrest warrant issued by the Seoul Central District Court in October 2020.

Information obtained from the Interpol showed that Changhan was allegedly the leader of a telecom fraud ring based in Sandong-sung, China that engaged in voice phishing to defraud victims of 63 million won or nearly $53 million.

Another South Korean fugitive, Kim Junhee, 38, was nabbed in Porac, Pampanga on Feb. 18, according to the BI.

Authorities tagged Kim Junhee as an alleged member of a telecom fraud ring in Tianjin, China that defrauded people of over $92 million.

The South Koreans are wanted by the Interpol, the BI said.

In another operation, BI agents arrested Chinese Zhang Yujie, 51, in Mandaluyong on Friday.

The BI said Chinese authorities sought Zhang’s deportation for her alleged involvement in economic crimes.

The fugitives are being held at the BI detention facility at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City pending their deportation.