Korean embassy expresses concern over PDEA arrest

The Korean embassy expressed concern yesterday over the sad plight of one of its nationals at the hands of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents who allegedly tried to extort money from him on charges of credit card fraud last Dec. 9.

Gyung Taek Cha, consul and police attaché of the Korean embassy brought to the attention of PDEA Director Anselmo Avenido the experience of Hai Ju Ku and requested that the case be given "prompt and necessary consideration."

In a five-page letter to Avenido, Gyung complained that PDEA agents assigned at its satellite office at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex detained Hai for 18 hours without filing any charges.

Gyung’s letter was copy-furnished to the offices of Interior and Local Government Secretary Joey Lina, Philippine National Police chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., National Bureau of Investigation Director Reynaldo Wycoco and lawyer Efren Meneses, head of the NBI anti-fraud division.

The STAR managed to get a copy of Gyung’s letter.

In his letter, Gyung said Hai called him up last Dec. 10 reporting that he was arrested by police officials who threatened to jail him then demanded $10,000 for his release.

When he talked to the arresting officers, he was told that Hai was invited for questioning after he was allegedly caught trying to withdraw cash from an ATM machine using various credit cards.

Agents claimed they recovered 48 credit cards inside the Korean’s clutch bag.

Hai claimed he was simply waiting for a countryman near a Korean restaurant along Burgos street in Makati City last Dec. 9 when accosted by PDEA agents and brought to their office.

He claimed PDEA agents divested him of his digital camera and P5,000 cash. When he asked why he was arrested, he was told to produce $10,000 for his release or land in jail for possession of illegal drugs.

The PDEA agents, Hai alleged, took out two small plastic bags with "drug-like stuff " which he said, "he had never seen before."

Hai also denied having anything to do with credit card fraud.

Gyung said he demanded the release of Hai since no charges was filed against him.