BI deports South Korean businessman

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) deported the 50-year-old South Korean businessman who escaped from the bureau’s detention cell in 2007 and was rearrested last month.

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. yesterday said Korean fugitive You Hang-mok was deported last Friday to Incheon, South Korea on board a Korean Airlines flight from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The Korean fugitive had appeared in a photo with President Aquino at a Palace function, which was published in The STAR on Oct. 11, 2011.

The Korean was photographed with Aquino and Misamis Occidental Rep. Leo Ocampos during a courtesy call at Malacañang.

BI spokesperson Ma. Antonette Bucasas-Mangrobang said that You is wanted in Seoul for large scale estafa.

He escaped from BI custody on March 4, 2007 after his request to undergo medical treatment was granted. His attending physician was based in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

“He fled Korea to evade prosecution and there were reports alleging that he was able to establish a business here,” Mangrobang added.

The BI rearrested You at a golf club in Ozamis City last Oct. 4 after months of surveillance operations.

You was reportedly expelled barely a few weeks after being arrested for the second time because he was already issued with a summary deportation order by the BI board of commissioners in 2006.

“He was also included in our blacklist, thus he is banned from re-entering the Philippines,” David said.

He described the Korean as an undesirable alien because he blatantly violated the country’s Immigration law by escaping from the bureau’s custody to evade deportation to his country where he is a wanted criminal. – With Jaime Laude