A flash alarm was raised by the Manila Police District’s anti-carnapping section following the complaint of Michael Escolin, a rent-a-car operator from Quezon City, that his client Maricor Lim failed to return a Suzuki Vitarra wagon, with license plate USD-208, after renting it last Dec. 28.
Escolin had provided a driver, Victorino Osit, to the suspect. However, Osit told police that Lim asked him to hand over the car keys to her when they reached the Hyatt Hotel in Malate, Manila. After a few hours, he checked the car at the parking area but Lim and the vehicle were gone.
The vehicle was spotted Thursday along United Nations Avenue being driven by a Manila policeman, identified as SPO1 Mario Tabora.
At the police headquarters, Tabora said the vehicle was pawned to him last Dec. 29 by Lim for P220,000 at a hotel casino. He added that Lim is also asking for additional P50,000.
Lim was arrested in an entrapment operation. — Nestor Etolle