BI in pursuit of Korean who escaped during trial

 

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has initiated a manhunt against a South Korean national who is wanted for fraud but managed to slip past his guards during his court hearing last March 4. 

In a statement released on Thursday, the BI identified the 28-year-old South Korean fugitive as Na Ikhyeon, who is wanted in his country for deceptive investments. 

The agency said he was arrested on May 31, 2023, and was held in its facility while awaiting deportation. 

But Na’s deportation was deferred pending the resolution of an estafa case filed by a Filipino complainant against him before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.

“The complainant, an owner of a small jewelry business, said that Na consigned several jewelry as an agent, but failed to remit the full amount of sales despite several demands. Na attended a hearing related to the said case on March 4 but was able to elude authorities using the court’s restroom,” the BI said,

“We are investigating if his counsel has knowledge of this seemingly pre-planned incident. We have also assigned a special tracker team to locate him and again take custody,” BI Commissioner Joel Viado said. 

He added that the tracker team is now pursuing good leads against the Na and they are now preparing the charges against those who may be linked to his escape.  (Keith Irish Margareth Clores, INQUIRER.net intern)