Four arrested South Koreans, including two “fugitives” who are wanted in their country, have been charged in court with illegal online gambling, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Tuesday, March 18.
The NBI identified them as Kim Minha, Kim Haesu,Kim Minsuu and Jang Jin.
“The arrested individuals were subsequently indicted for illegal online gambling under Presidential Decree No. 1602 in relation to Republic Act No. 10175” and the cases are how with the Angeles City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 115, it said.
The bureau said joint operatives of the NBI Pampanga District Office (NBI-PAMDO) and the military intelligence of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) arrested the four Koreans last Feb. 27 in their condominium unit in Barangay Sta. Cruz in Proac, Pampanga during the implementation of a Warrant to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data (WSSECD) issued by the Malolos City RTC Branch 81.
“The case stemmed from the information that the aforementioned premises operate as an illegal online gambling hub without a license from Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR),” it said.
During the Feb. 27 operation, the NBI said “authorities seized computer devices and online gambling paraphernalia.”
Investigators also learned that Kim Minha and Kim Haesu are wanted in South Korea and have been issued red notices by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) after the Chuncheon District Court issued arrest warrants for fraud against them, it added.
“Based on records, Kim Minha and Kim Haesu are members of a Korean voice phishing syndicate operating in the Philippines since 2017,” the NBI disclosed.
“They defrauded their victims by posing as bankers, amassing approximately $840,000 from their scams,” it added.