4 Koreans, 3 Pinoys arrested for illegal online casino

MANILA, Philippines - Police have arrested seven persons, including four South Koreans for allegedly operating an illegal online casino at a hotel in Manila.

The South Koreans – Yun Cheing Yeol, alias Justine, 40; Song Byeonghan, alias Dennis, 35; Song Young Ji, 35, and Jin Dong Sik, 36 – failed to show documents supporting their stay in the country.

Director Leon Nilo de la Cruz, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief, has coordinated with the Bureau of Immigration to determine whether the four South Koreans were undocumented aliens.

“We will initiate deportation proceedings against them once proven that they are undocumented aliens,” he said.

Rene Figueroa, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. executive vice president, told De la Cruz the South Koreans were not licensed to operate a casino.

De la Cruz said Michelle Saga, 28; Dharyn Joy Cana, 20, and Jonady Lobitana, 21, were card dealers of the illegal online casino.

Senior Superintendent Christopher Laxa, CIDG Task Force Maverick commander, said the suspects were caught in the act of playing card games with their clients in South Korea through online games.

“The clients or bettors will place their bets in a bank and would collect payment also in the bank,” he said.

Police seized four gambling tables, playing cards, computers, three video cameras, three calculators, a computer printer, two telephones, logbooks and other office equipment.

De la Cruz said police are searching for a certain Choy, believed to be the syndicate’s big boss and his men, identified only as Victor, Kim and James.

Police has charged the four South Koreans and the three card dealers with illegal operation of a gambling den before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office.

Assistant City Prosecutor Editha Aguda has yet to rule on the case.