Gem smuggling suspect posts bail

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) granted temporary liberty to a suspected big-time gem smuggler after she posted bail and was later turned over to the Israeli embassy and a Jewish rabbi.

BI law and investigation division chief Bienvenido Chy said Siu Ting Alpha Kwok, 43, posted P150,000 bail and has been in the custody of Jewish Association of the Philippines (JAP) chief Rabbi Eliyahu Azaria since Wednesday.

Last Sept. 30, the BI received a letter from the Israeli embassy explaining that Kwok’s husband is an Israeli national and they have two children who are still minors. A third request came from Azaria, also an Israeli national.

Last Aug. 10, the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) raided Kwok’s condominium unit at Pacific Place in Pasig City and reportedly found P250 million worth of jewelry, some of which were suspected to have been smuggled to the country.

The PASG was armed with a search warrant issued by Manila City Regional Trial Court Branch 29 Judge Cielito Mindaro-Grulla when they raided her place.

PASG filed charges of violation of Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines and the National Internal Revenue Code against her before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

PASG said Kwok is likely to be a “true-blooded” smuggler, noting that she admitted during the preliminary investigation at the DOJ that she was arrested for allegedly smuggling 2.2 kilos of jewelry valued at $3,368 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on March 8, 1997.    – Evelyn Macairan, Paolo Romero