Korean kidnapping case Court junks “mastermind’s” plea

CEBU, Philippines - The Korean national accused in the kidnapping for ransom of a fellow Korean and his girlfriend failed to get a provisional release order from the court for lack of merit.

Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 10 Judge Soliver Peras denied the motion filed by Song Sung Heum seeking for his temporary release from detention to give him time to prepare for his defenses.

Peras said that Song was charged with a non-bailable offense of kidnapping for ransom. He said that the proper remedy is not a motion for temporary release but a petition for bail.

“The argument of Song’s counsel that the accused may post bail, pursuant to Sec. 17, Rule 114 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure is erroneous,” Peras  ruled.

Under the rule, Peras said, the provision is applicable only to a person who is charged with a bailable offense.

Song and three Filipino cohorts, Gregorio Dealagdon, of Aloguinsan, Cebu; Leonardo Bulabon, of  Pacuan, La Libertad, Negros Oriental; and Richard Dealagdon, of Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City, were charged with kidnapping for ransom.

Prosecutor Rhodna Bacatan found probable cause to indict them based on the evidence presented by the complainants Jun Hyung Chung and his Filipina girlfriend Charise Santiago.

The complainants said that on October 24, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. they were “forcibly taken by armed persons” identified as Gregorio, Bulabon and Richard at their residence in La Guardia, Lahug, Cebu City.

The accused allegedly demanded P600,000 ransom for their release. But the accused were arrested by the police.

Song denied that he was the mastermind of the alleged kidnapping. The other accused likewise denied kidnapping the victims. The three Filipino accused said they were just asked to arrange a meeting between Chung and Song to settle some issues involving money.

According to them, the complainants voluntarily go with them to meet Song. But the prosecutor’s office found probable cause to indict them of the crime.  — (FREEMAN)