Embassy seeks aid on Korean woman's killing

MANILA, Philippines - The Korean embassy sought yesterday the help of the Eastern Police District (EPD) in solving the murder of a Korean woman who was strangled to death in her rented condominium unit in Mandaluyong City last June 28.

Kim Tae Soo, consul of the Korean embassy, said they are willing to cooperate with the local police investigation of the death of Lee Ru Da, 32, a businesswoman, especially in the translation of Korean text messages found in her mobile phones and computer tablet.

He urged the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to expedite the unlocking of the mobile phones and computer tablets of the victim to check the phone logs and other important messages she received prior to her death.

In the three weeks since her body was discovered in her room at the Pioneer Highlands Tower 2, Mandaluyong police officers have reported no progress in the case.

“We are actually still working on the case, like the cell phone examination. But the others like the swab test needs the go signal of the victim’s relatives,” said Chief Inspector Carlito Canlas, chief of the criminal investigation unit of the Mandaluyong City police.

Canlas, citing an autopsy report, said the woman was strangled but was not raped. She was clad in a blue tube dress but naked from the waist down.

Lee’s business partner and former boyfriend, Joseph Jon Cabrera, 32, discovered her body when he went to her condominium unit after she failed to answer his text messages and calls. They were supposed to engage in a business venture.

In his letter to EPD director Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel, Kim suggested that the local police secure a copy of the closed-circuit television camera footage of the condominium that might help the local police in identifying Lee’s killer.

Kim said stool samples found near the victim’s body should be subjected to a DNA test for possible matching with that of apprehended suspects.