Phl officials capture Korean fugitive who eluded arrest for more than a decade

Anthony Ching·20 December 2023, 8:07 pm·1 min read

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Phl officials capture Korean fugitive who eluded arrest for more than a decade — The South Korean fugitive Yoo Hoon, who has been wanted for a decade by the local authorities, was arrested at NAIA Terminal 1. Photo courtesy of the Bureau of Immigration.

The Bureau of Immigration reported on Wednesday afternoon that a South Korean fugitive who is wanted by the local authorities to face prosecution in a Pasig City court for the offense of grave threat was apprehended by BI personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

In a report given to BI Commissioner Norman Tangsingco, the BI Border Control and Intelligence Unit identified the suspect as Yoo Hoon, 40, who was intercepted on 18 December when he attempted to leave the country via an Asian Airlines flight bound for Seoul, South Korea.

The BI-BCIU said that Yoo was placed under arrest upon confirmation that he was the subject of an alert list order that the BI issued in October 2017. The order instructs the Bureau to turn over Yoo to the law enforcement authorities if he is encountered at any of the country's international ports of exit.

"We immediately turned him over to the National Bureau of Investigation in compliance with said alert order and pursuant to an arrest warrant that was issued against him by a local court," BI-BCIU deputy chief for operations Joseph Cueto said.

Based on a complaint for grave threats filed against them by prosecutors, records showed that Yoo and his co-accused are the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Pasig City Regional Trial Court on 14 December 2012.

Yoo managed to elude arrest by local authorities for 11 years until he was intercepted at NAIA Terminal 1 on Monday.

Tansingco said the Koreans' arrest should serve as a reminder to other foreigners who are wanted here that they can not forever evade arrest and prosecution for whatever crimes they committed in their host country.

"Eventually, the long arm of the law will catch you, and you will be made to answer for your transgressions of the laws of our country," the BI chief added.