THREE South Koreans wanted by authorities in their country for setting up and operating illegal gambling sites online were arrested by immigration agents in Makati City last Tuesday.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said Cho Chang Joo, Beom Dawon and Hong Changwoo were apprehended in a condominium unit in Barangay San Lorenzo, Makati.
The arrest was carried out based on a mission order issued by Morente upon the request of South Korean authorities.
Their passports were also canceled by the South Korean government, making them undocumented aliens.
BI Fugitive Search Unit Chief Bobby Raquepo said the three were the subject of a warrant of arrest issued by a district court in Busan, South Korea. They were also the subject of an Interpol notice in 2019.
“The three will face deportation proceedings and will be sent back to their country of origin to face (a) Korean court. They will likewise be included in the Bureau’s blacklist, effectively barring them from re-entering the country,” Raquepo said.
Citing information from their South Korean counterparts, Raquepo said the three were charged with violating their country’s national sports promotion act by creating online gambling sites.
South Korean prosecutors alleged that their racket started in 2019 when they opened sports betting websites which enabled them to earn money from online gamblers.
If convicted, they face up to seven years imprisonment.
