A person in their 50s, who embezzled 1.1 billion won while working as a bank employee and fled overseas, has been forcibly repatriated to the country after 18 years.
The Korean National Police Agency stated that two individuals, including embezzlement offenders and operators of online gambling sites, were arrested in the Philippines and forcibly repatriated on the morning of the 27th.
Mr. A (57) embezzled approximately 1.1 billion won by falsifying loan-related documents while working as a director in charge of loans at a major domestic bank in 2007.
Mr. A successfully fled to the Philippines; however, while visiting the Philippine Immigration Bureau last September to obtain administrative documents, it was revealed that he was a wanted person by Interpol, leading to his capture. He stepped onto Korean soil in handcuffs through Incheon International Airport that morning.
Mr. B (41), who is suspected of operating an online gambling site, was also forcibly repatriated from the Philippines on the same day.
He is accused of operating multiple online gambling sites amounting to 16 billion won in gambling funds in collaboration with six accomplices since 2015, using the Philippines as a base. Mr. B was captured after being followed in a vehicle as part of a joint investigation by the Korean Desk (dedicated police officers handling cases involving Koreans) and Philippine Immigration Bureau investigators last March. The online gambling organization has been completely apprehended with Mr. B being the last.
The Korean National Police Agency reported that they agreed with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines to repatriate two individuals at once, considering the nature of the suspects' crimes, the scale of their offenses, and the duration of their evasion.
Lee Joon-hyung, Director General for International Cooperation of the Korean National Police Agency, noted that "this repatriation is an excellent example of successful collaboration between the local embassy, the Philippine Immigration Bureau, and the Korean Desk in capturing and repatriating suspects," and added, "We will continue to consolidate our domestic and international cooperation capabilities for a full-scale response."