BI agents nab suspect in Tiu abduction

A suspect in the celebrated kidnapping for ransom of La Union businesswoman Jacky Rowena Tiu whom a judge had allowed to post bail, was arrested yesterday by immigration agents for being an undocumented alien.

In a report, Immigration Associate Commissioner Daniel Cueto said agents of the bureau’s intelligence division collared Zhang Du after attending a hearing of the kidnapping case in San Fernando City, La Union.

Cueto, however, clarified that Zhang was nabbed for being an illegal alien, not in connection with the Tiu case.

He revealed though that they acted on the request of the Tiu family who feared that Zhang might slip out of the country once the verdict is handed down.

Six other suspects, all named principals in the Tiu kidnapping, are detained in San Fernando City. An eighth suspect, a certain Henry Ong, is still at large.

A La Union judge allowed Zhang to post bail after a prosecutor charged him as a mere accessory.

Tiu was snatched on Sept. 27 last year and was released eight days later in exchange for a P10-million ransom. The suspects were arrested in separate raids in Bacoor, Cavite and Pasay City on Oct. 4 last year.