Korean arrested for duping fellow Korean

CEBU, Philippines - Police arrested a Korean national who allegedly pretended to be a tour guide and pocketed the money of his fellow Korean national, Tuesday in Barangay Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City.

Arrested was 38-year-old Chi Hun An, who allegedly pocketed the P105,000 cash the victim supposedly paid for a resort in Barangay Marigondon.

Chi was found by police officers hiding behind the sheets of his room at a Korean school in Barangay Pusok at past 2 p.m. last Tuesday, said Senior Inspector Junnel Caadlawon of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office - Tourist Police Unit.

Caadlawon said they found a laptop inside the suspect’s room, where the latter allegedly does his bogus transactions.

The arrest followed after an official of the resort sought police help, saying one of their guests got victimized by the suspect.

“Last September 15, a Korean guest arrived around 1:50 a.m. assisted by a tour guide,” narrated Charlie Baltazar, the resort’s front office manager, to The FREEMAN, referring to Chi.

Baltazar said Chi disguised as a tour guide, allegedly booked the victim through an online travelling agency, which Baltazar suspected was a bogus agency.

The guest, who requested anonymity, allegedly paid the suspect $2,300 dollars (P105,232), believing it was the total amount of the resort’s room accommodation.

The guest was with her four children, Baltazar said.

The booking was made two months earlier, but was cancelled after several weeks.

“The reason for the cancellation was wala ni-pay. Ang guest ni-book ato nga tour guide. This person (Chi) made a temporary booking. If mag-advance booking, maghatag ‘na sila og several days allowance aron maka-pay. Naa sila’y booking na ni-exist. Pag-deadline sa payment, ang katung payment nga gihatag sa guest, iyahang (Chi) gi-bulsa,” said Baltazar.

The guest might have been carried away by the suspect’s offer, Baltazar said.

“When they arrived here, nag-drama na. Nag-drama sad ang katung tour guide,” he said.

The suspect reportedly complained, told resort staff that there was a mistake and insisted to let his guest check in, as he promised to settle the issue the next day.

The suspect, according to Baltazar, did not show up until the guest checked out last September 17.

The guest, Baltazar said, ended up paying twice the said amount asked by the suspect earlier.

By the time the guest checked out, Baltazar ordered one of the resort’s drivers to escort them in going to the airport.

 Police were able to intercept the suspect near the bridge. This is the first time the resort encountered such incident. We immediately disseminated information to other hotels and resorts to be alarmed about the tour guide,” he said.

The suspect, who claimed to be a former military officer, is also facing fraud charges back in Korea, according to Caadlawon. (FREEMAN)