The Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration (BI) apprehended two South Korean fugitives following red notices from Interpol and arrest warrants issued by South Korean courts.
According to Immigration Officer-in-Charge Joel Viado, the duo were arrested in separate locations: Las Piñas City and Pampanga respectively.
One of the suspects, Nam Sundong, aged 37, was wanted in South Korea for operating illegal gambling establishments, which violated South Korean laws where gambling is illegal. A warrant was issued by a district court in Ulsan, South Korea, which resulted in the Interpol Red Notice for said suspect.
Currently, both suspects are being detained under the BI’s custody in its Bicutan detention centre, awaiting deportation back to their home country.
Recently, the Philippines authorities also deported 33 Chinese nationals, who were caught for illegal POGO activities in Pasay City. The suspects were guarded by PAOCC personnel, PNP Aviation Security group and Chinese Embassy personnel before being sent on board PAL flight PR-336 heading back to Xiamen, China. This was after the Philippines' nationwide POGO ban was announced.
Gambling in South Korea remained illegal for its local citizens except for ‘small bets placed for fun’ and at facilities authorised by the Government. Kangwon Land Casino in Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon Province, was the only legal casino in South Korea that allowed locals to patronise. The casino has been given an exception under the Special Act on the Assistance to the Development of Abandoned Mine Areas in the 1990s.
