The anti-kidnapping unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) rescued in Manila a young Korean man from his fellow citizen who abducted him when he discovered that the suspect was involved in telephone fraud, authorities disclosed Wednesday.
Brigadier General Jonnel Estomo, head of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), identified the suspect as Na Jin Suk, 36.
Na was nabbed by police in a condominium unit on N. Concepcion Street in Ermita, Manila on Tuesday after he abducted 19-year-old Kim Byeong Mo.
According to Estomo, Kim arrived in the Philippines on Sunday, January 19, after getting job offers from his college senior.
Estomo said Kim was welcomed by Na and two other unidentified Koreans upon his arrival.
However, Kim later found out that Na’s business, where the former was supposed to work, was involved in illegal transactions including telephone fraud with an aim to extort money from their victims.
Kim then called his mother in Korea to ask for help but Na learned about the discovery of his illegal business.
Kim was held in a condo unit but unknown to Na, the victim’s mother already coordinated with the Korean police to rescue her son.
Estomo said Korean Police Liaison Chief Inspector Hyosang Kwon and Jinsu Choi from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea sought assistance from the PNP AKG Luzon Field Unit (LFU) to trace and launch a rescue operation for Kim on Tuesday morning.
A plan was hatched by the authorities and around 6 p.m. of the same day, Kim was saved from his captor. Na was arrested by the police.
Na was detained at the detention facility of the AKG office in Camp Crame, Quezon City. He was charged with kidnapping, police said.
Meanwhile, the AKG has conducted follow-up operations to determine the liability of the two other Korean nationals who may be involved in Na’s illegal business. (Martin Sadongdong)
