Bureau of Immigration nabs Korean mafia member

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested Saturday a Korean fugitive, allegedly a member of a Korean mafia, who is wanted for attempting to kill a man who used to be his subordinate in the criminal syndicate eight years ago.

Kim Yeol Gun, 38, was arrested by BI agents and the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group outside his condominium unit along Roxas Boulevard in Manila.

BI Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said they will deport Kim to Seoul for being an undocumented and undesirable alien since the Korean embassy canceled his passport.

Antonio Rivera, BI deportation unit head, said Kim will stand trial before the Eujeongbu District Court in Korea, which issued a warrant for his arrest.

Rivera said Kim was charged for allegedly kidnapping a Korean named Roh on May 16, 2000. Kim brought Roh to a mountain in Gyunggi province, struck him with a baseball bat and buried him up to his neck.

Kim spared Roh’s life but continued to blackmail and rob his former subordinate.

Rivera also said Kim is the subject of many complaints from Koreans in the Philippines whom he allegedly harassed and blackmailed for money.

He said Kim would usually brag about his mafia connections to intimidate his victims.