Police arrested a 69-year-old man for allegedly extorting millions of pesos from Chinese business owners in the Binondo district by claiming they violated intellectual property laws.

The Manila Police District (MPD) conducted the entrapment operation at a fast-food restaurant after receiving a complaint from one of the victims.

Authorities are also searching for an accomplice, identified as a police master sergeant assigned to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Eastern Metro Manila District Field Unit.

Investigators say the suspect’s local scheme involved accusing Chinese merchants of selling general merchandise, such as electric kettles, that used designs he claimed to have patented.

According to a translator for 11 of the victims, identified only as “Jef,” the suspects would take the merchants into custody without a search warrant. Once detained, the 69-year-old man would allegedly demand payments ranging from P400,000 to P1 million to drop the charges.

“Even after they paid him, he would still proceed with the inquest,” Jef disclosed. “They would be stuck in jail from Friday until Tuesday and then forced to pay another cash bond. He really made them suffer.”

The translator said many victims only came forward after seeing news of the arrest on the messaging app WeChat.

The suspect is currently detained and faces charges of robbery extortion. Police said the CIDG officer remains at large. Additional victims are expected to file separate complaints in the coming days.