Korean's kidnapper arrested

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested a Chinese national, who, along with two other foreigners, were accused of kidnapping a Korean in Manila last year.

The suspect, Yang Lee, alias Yang Li was collared by agents of the National Capital Region Police Office inside the casino at the Resort World Hotel in Pasay City.

NCRPO chief Director Roberto Rosales said his men were armed with an arrest warrant issued by Judge Dominador Arquelada Jr., of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 40 when they cornered Yang at about 4 a.m. Arquelada recommended no bail against Yang and his co-accused Un Boong alias Um Bong and Jeff Kano for the kidnapping of Kim Ki Kwang, 45, a Korean national in November last year. Un is a Chinese-Korean while Kano is a Chinese-American.

Records showed that Kim met one Kim Gyeong Soo while playing a card game at the Hyatt Hotel and Casino on Nov. 13, 2008. He said Kim introduced him to Yang, a casino financier from whom he obtained a P500,000 loan which has a P50,000 interest payable in five days. However, Kim failed to settle his obligation despite Yang’s repeated demands for payment.

On Nov. 25, Kim said Yang, Kano and a certain Dave Fernandez took him to the Riviera Mansion Hotel where he was beaten up and forced to sign an agreement that he should pay his loan in full on Dec. 5.   – Non Alquitran