Chinese casino financier nabbed for abducting Korean in Manila

A Chinese man was arrested on Saturday for abducting a Korean man, who failed to settle his debt, for 10 days and demanding P4 million for his release.

Facing charges of kidnapping, serious illegal detention, grave coercion and physical injuries is Gong Yu-jia, a 28-year-old casino financier from Fujian province and operating at the gaming area of Pan Pacific Hotel in Ermita.

Gong was arrested by members of the Manila Police District on the complaint of Jung Jae-hoon, a 39-year-old Korean national, said Chief Insp. Joselito de Ocampo, chief of MPD General Assignment Investigation Section.

Jung told police that around 11 p.m. on Aug. 6, he lost the P600,000 he borrowed from the Chinese man while playing casino at Pan Pacific hotel.

When he failed to settle his debt, De Ocampo said Jung was taken by force by Gong and ten other suspects from his unit at Le Mirage Condominium at midnight of Aug. 7.

He was transferred to Bellagio Condominium Hotel and later to Robinsons Tower, both in Malate, for 10 days.

While abducted, Gong allegedly demanded P4 million from Jung’s family in Korea in exchange for his release. De Ocampo said the suspect even sent a photo of bloodied Jung while his hands and feet were tied to his family as proof of life.

Jung’s family was not able to raise the ransom money, but De Ocampo said Jung was able to escape at 7 a.m. on Aug. 17, when the Chinese men assigned to guard him got drunk.

The victim went straight to the Korean Embassy in Taguig to help him file a complaint to police.

Police arrested Gong, after Jung pointed at him and identified his abductor, back at the casino room of Pan Pacific. They, however, failed to capture the ten other suspects. JE