PNP names casino operators in Anson Que kidnap-slay case

The Philippine National Police (PNP) identified two junket operators involved in channeling the ransom money in the kidnapping and killing of Anson Que.

During a press conference on Monday at Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson P/BGen. Jean Fajardo identified the junket casinos involved as the Nine Dynasty Group, owned by Mark Ong, and the White First Club, whose owner has yet to be named.

Mark Ong's real name is Li Duan Wang, and he was a resident of Fujian, China. He transferred his residence to the Philippines in 1991 and set up several businesses connected to gaming, IT support, and the cryptocurrency industries.

Fajardo said the junket operators' authority to operate and junket agreements with the two casinos will be revoked.

She also disclosed that the ransom money paid by Anson Que's family was routed through two junket operators before being transferred to a cryptocurrency wallet.

Fajardo said tracking the funds becomes extremely difficult once they are moved into crypto wallets.

Meanwhile, Fajardo said one of the accounts used to transfer ransom money in Que's kidnap-slay case has been traced to a Chinese national who had previously sent funds to another Chinese national recently arrested for espionage in the Philippines.

"One of the account of Lin Ning, sometime of June 7, 2023, has sent a huge amount of money through e-wallet to Ni Quinhui," she noted, adding that the name of Ni Quinhui has appeared in previous report published on 26 February, which identified him as one of the individuals apprehended by National Beaurue of Investigation "for espionage."

Bounty increased

Meanwhile, the PNP has issued a Red Notice for Kelly Tan Lim, who remains at large and is believed to be one of the masterminds behind the kidnap-slay of businessman Anson Que and his driver.

Fajardo said the authorities also announced that the reward for Lim’s capture has now increased to P10 million from P5 million.

“Itinaas na po sa P10 million ang reward kung sino man po ang makakapagbigay ng information sa mabilis po na ikakadakip o ikakaaresto ni alias Kelly (The reward has been increased to P10 million for anyone who can provide information leading to the swift capture or arrest of alias Kelly)," she said.

The PNP earlier had named a total of five suspects in the killing of Que and his driver so far, including those already in custody—David Tan Liao, Richardo Austria, and Reymart Catequista—and those still at large, Jonin Lin and Kelly.

Fajardo noted Liao and Kelly were the alleged masterminds, while Austria, Catequista, and Lin were accomplices.