Ativan gang leader to face theft raps

The Makati City police is scheduled to file today theft charges against the self-confessed leader of the Ativan Gang in the City Prosecutor’s Office.

Case investigator Senior Police Officer 3 Jun Asinas said six foreigners have filed formal complaints against Rodrigo Fabricante, who admitted he has been preying on wealthy foreign businessmen for more than 10 years.

The complainants are Japanese nationals Masaki Shikata and Shuhei Uhida, American Julius Kunte, Briton Jonathan Andersen, Frenchman Michel Hennequin, and New Zealander Peter Wayne Holyoeke.

All have positively identified Fabricante as the man who drugged them and stole their cash and personal belongings amounting to over half-a-million pesos.

In their statements, the complainants all said a well-dressed Fabricante and an unidentified companion approached them on separate occasions and befriended them, or in Uchida’s case, asked his assistance in interpreting an alleged Japanese girlfriend’s love letter.

Fabricante offered them drinks laced with a sleep-inducing drug. Once knocked out, Fabricante and his cohorts would rob their victims clean.

The suspect was arrested by Makati operatives last June 21 in Barangay Bina, Sta. Cruz, Laguna following a tip from an informant.

The Makati police created Task Force Ativan after Young Ho Chung, Third Secretary of the South Korean Embassy was reported missing. Young’s friend Chung Han Young identified Fabricante and an accomplice as those who befriended them and invited them for a round of drinks in Cainta, Rizal.

The group dropped off Chung at his Ortigas residence afterwards. But Young never reached home. He was found dead several days later in Marikina. Police said the diplomat could have choked on his own vomit as a result of the lethal mix of the drug and alcohol.

Fabricante admitted to stealing from Young but denied killing the diplomat. – Nikko Dizon