BY JUN RAMIREZ
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BUREAU of Immigration (BI) officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have intercepted a South Korean fugitive wanted for illegal gambling in his country.
In a report to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente, BI port operations chief Grifton Medina said the passenger, An Byeonghyeon, 27, was intercepted last Friday at the immigration departure area of the NAIA 1 terminal.
“He was being processed at our counter when our inspector discovered that he is in the Interpol’s list of wanted fugitives,” Medina said. “He was also traveling with a stolen travel document.”
Nonetheless, he said the Korean was allowed to board his Aseana Airlines flight after the BI informed authorities in Seoul about his flight.
“He (An) was arrested upon his arrival at the Incheon airport where Korean policemen were waiting for him,” he added.
Information obtained from the BI Interpol unit revealed that An conspired with other Korean suspects in operating an illegal online gaming website called “Syrub, Milk, Butter, Sugar” from 2017 up to March this year.
The suspects allegedly operated their racket from an office in Manila from which they solicited gambling money from Korean customers who betted on the results of sports competitions.
A warrant for An’s arrest was issued by the Busan district court last March 7 which later led the Interpol to place him on its red notice list.
He was charged with violating Korea’s national sports promotion act and he could be sentenced up to 10 years in jail if convicted.
