Korean swindling suspect surrenders

Nineteen days after he escaped from jail, a Korean who is wanted for large-scale fraud and estafa turned himself in to Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan yesterday afternoon.

Byung Kyu Choi returned to his cell at the Bureau of Immigration detention facility in Bicutan, Taguig while waiting for his deportation papers. The BI has yet to secure clearances from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the courts before they can send him back to Korea.

Choi escaped last Jan. 17 after his BI escorts accompanied him to a dental clinic and then to his office.

Libanan ordered the relief of jail warden Warden Arsenio Samson, and jail guards Jorge Reyes, Herbert Veron, Carlos Garcia, Fernando Achay, and Nasrodin Abdulwahab for reportedly violating BI rules because they allowed Choi to leave the detention center even if no authorized official issued a medical pass.

Immediately after Choi’s escape, the BI coordinated with the Korean Embassy and the Korean Association to locate him. The BI also posted Choi’s picture at several Korean restaurants and stores.

Choi was arrested last Dec. 3 at the Food Terminal International (FTI) complex in Taguig based on a complaint by a Korean couple who claimed he defrauded them of P7 million.

The Korean Embassy said Choi has to stand trial before a district court in Seoul for his reported involvement in an embezzlement case worth P400 million or P16 million.    – Evelyn Macairan