Seoul seeks deportation of wanted Korean fugitive

MANILA, Philippines—A representative of the South Korean government in Manila has sought the deportation of a Korean fugitive who was arrested for beating his wife and taking his child hostage last week in Quezon City.

Korean police attache Park Yong Jeung recently wrote to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) to request the deportation of Lee Man Kwon. Lee, who is wanted in his country on drug trafficking charges, was arrested on Aug. 19 after a 13-hour hostage drama in the Fairview area.

“I would appreciate it if the QCPD would properly coordinate with the Bureau of Immigration for Mr. Lee’s immediate turnover and deportation to Korea since a summary deportation order was issued on June 6, 2013,” the police attache said in his letter to QCPD director Chief Supt. Richard Albano.

According to Park, Lee was arrested on Aug. 17 in Manila after he failed to settle his bill at the Hyatt Hotel. He was brought to a police station but he was eventually released after the hotel decided not to pursue the case against him. Lee was placed on the Interpol watch list after a court in Incheon, South Korea, ordered his arrest in January 2011 for allegedly smuggling drugs from the Philippines to Guam.

He had been staying in Manila for two years before his arrest on Aug. 19.

The QCPD, meanwhile, is checking information that he was able to purchase pieces of property in the country. QCPD deputy director for operations Senior Supt. Procopio Lipana said the foreigner, a casino financier, was also suspected of distributing drugs to Korean gamblers.—Julie M. Aurelio