BI set to deport South Korean swindler

FILE: He is wanted for defrauding a fellow Korean of the amount which he borrowed on the pretext that he would invest the money in the cosmetics business. (Photo: Connor Tarter/ Flickr)

MANILA— The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is set to deport a 41-year-old South Korean wanted for swindling in his country.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente identified the fugitive as Park Petero, who was arrested at his home along Plaridel Street, Barangay Sto. Niño, Angeles City, Pampanga by operatives from the bureau’s fugitive search unit (FSU) last September 26.

“He will be deported for being an undesirable alien and for posing risk to public safety on account of his status as a fugitive from justice,” he said in a statement Monday.

The foreigner had hidden in the country for nearly five years to evade arrest and prosecution for swindling a compatriot of his money worth 60 million won, seven years ago.

Morente added that Park was the subject of a red notice from Interpol which was issued due to an arrest warrant that a Korean court issued against him in 2015.

On the other hand, BI-FSU chief Bobby Raquepo said the fugitive arrived in the Philippines on Oct. 12, 2012 and did not leave the country since then.

He is wanted for defrauding a fellow Korean of the amount which he borrowed on the pretext that he would invest the money in the cosmetics business.

Park allegedly enticed his victim to lend him the money by promising he would pay a 4-percent interest on the principal of his loan every month.

But, he did not fulfill his promise and refused to pay his loan despite repeated demands.

“He then fled to the Philippines upon learning that his victim has filed a complaint against him with the police,” the BI official added.