NBI nabs 3 for defrauding Globe of P30 million

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recently arrested two Korean nationals and a Filipino who allegedly defrauded telecommunications giant Globe Telecom Inc. of P30 million through the use of high-technology equipment that bypasses the telecom company’s system.

In a press conference held yesterday at the NBI headquarters in Manila, NBI Director Nestor Mantaring said according to Globe’s security director, Ronald Uychutin, the losses occurred during the past three months.

Mantaring identified the three arrested suspects as Koreans Gyoung Hwan Kim and Young Soo Yang and their Filipino associate, Adelan Adorel. They were arrested during Wednesday’s raid on Geeco Marketing Ventures Inc. and WhizResearch Inc. at Greenworld Plaza building along President’s Avenue in BF Homes, Parañaque City.

Uychutin said they discovered the illegal operations of the Korean nationals and the Filipino after they noticed “heavy traffic” in their inbound calls, many of whom are overseas Filipino workers.

They conducted their own investigation and found out that Kim and Yang were resorting to an International Simple Resale (ISR) system.

NBI spokesperson lawyer Allan Contado, also head of the agency’s Anti-Graft Division, said ISR converts international communication traffic into local domestic calls that bypasses the international gateway facility (IGF) of Globe.

He said the suspects’ counterparts in the United States get paid by US clients, then the three suspects get their share of the profits.

Contado said under the normal route, if a person makes a call in the US, he goes to the foreign carrier. His call would then enter Globe’s IGF, which would send the call to the Philippines.

The ISR, however, diverts foreign calls through the Internet then forwards it to Globe and then the Philippines. The foreign calls are made to appear as local calls, thus reducing Globe’s income and the government’s revenue through taxes.

The NBI seized various equipment the three suspects allegedly used for their activity. The three have been charged with violating the electronic commerce law and the Revised Penal Code.

While the two Korean nationals are documented aliens in the Philippines and have work permits, Mantaring said they have no right to possess the seized equipment.

NBI Intelligence Service operatives under Deputy Director Ruel Lasala said this was the second time this year that a similar raid was conducted. The earlier incident also involved Korean nationals and the complainant was Digitel Telephone Co., based in Makati.

“But the two incidents have no connection,” Lasala said. – Sandy Araneta