Two Korean nationals wanted by authorities in Korea for cyber fraud have been blacklisted by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) following their arrest in Quezon City.
The BI said on Monday that they have placed the two Korean fugitives on the BI blacklist to prevent them from re-entering the country.
“We will be banning them from the Philippines to ensure that they will not transfer their illegal activities here,” BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement.
The Korean nationals, who were identified as Jang Kilwan, 36, and Lee Junhee, 28, were arrested last Nov. 10 inside their condominium in Fairview, Quezon City.
The BI said they will be deporting the two Korean fugitives who have been hiding in the Philippines for more than three years.
They are wanted in Korea for illegally operating and maintaining a private internet sports gambling site from which they allegedly raked in more than $200,000 in profits.
“They would reportedly ask customers who gamble on their site to remit money to their illegally borrowed bank accounts,” Morente said.
“Having them remain in the country poses a risk against public interest and safety,” he added.
The Embassy of the Republlic of South Korea has been asking for the arrest and deportation of the two so that they may be tried and sentenced for their crimes, the BI said.
The Korean fugitives were issued a warrant of deportation after the BI issued a summary deportation order against them in December 2015.
“Foreign criminals are not welcome to hide here. We are in close coordination with our foreign counterparts to ensure that these fugitives be sent back to their countries to face justice,” Morente said. /muf