No bail for 8 Israelis nabbed for online fraud

The eight Israelis, tagged as leaders of a busted internal syndicate involved in fraudulent online trading at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, are now detained without bail.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said that government prosecutors recommended no bail for the eight foreigners while all their Filipino employees were freed.

“Per report from the ACG (Anti-Cybercrime Group), all the Israelis were detained with no bail and all the other Filipino employees were released for further investigation,” Albayalde said.

“That (detention without bail) is based on the findings of the five prosecutors from the Department of Justice,” he added.

The suspects were charged with violation of the anti-cybercrime law and large scale estafa.

Last Wednesday, elements of the PNP-ACG swooped down simultaneously on three buildings at the Freeport, arresting 484 individuals led by the eight Israelis.

Chief Supt. Marni Marcos Jr., director of PNP-ACG, said the group operated on three adjacent buildings at the Freeport under the name International Brandings Development Marketing Inc. (IBD).

However, Marcos said that there were no business permits found at the buildings during the raid.

Marcos said that members of the group are involved in fraudulent online — raking in millions of dollars from their victims during their two-and-a-half years operation.

He said the group is changing business name from time to time to evade authorities.

Marcos said the operation stemmed from reports and complaints from individuals from Australia and South Africa regarding an alleged online trading scam that victimized them.

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