Estonian arrested for extorting money from broadcaster’s son

MANILA, Philippines - An Estonian businessman and his companion were arrested in Taguig City Wednesday for allegedly trying to extort P28,000 from a son of broadcaster Arnold Clavio.

Urmas Saask, 36, a native of Rekvere City, and Lilian Docot, 29, were apprehended by police officers from the Eastern Police District (EPD) intelligence section after receiving marked money from the complainant, Arnauld Ymanuel Clavio, 23, who co-owns 25th  Media Production.

EPD intelligence chief Superintendent Remus Medina said the younger Clavio’s Honda Civic figured in a collision with Saask’s Mercedes Benz SL5 along ADB street in Mandaluyong City at around 2 p.m. on Jan. 29.

Clavio said Saask, who was allegedly drunk, reportedly punched the driver’s window of his car and demanded payment for the damages to his Benz. He said Saask attacked him while he was still in his car, and only stopped when he said he would not engage the Estonian in a fistfight.

He said he got out of the car and was taking pictures of the damage to the vehicles with his iPhone 5 when Saask grabbed the cell phone and fled.

EPD director Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel ordered Medina to conduct an entrapment after Saask demanded P28,000 from Clavio in exchange for dropping the charges against him.

Medina said Saask’s driver’s license turned out to be fake while his student’s visa expired in 2009.

Saask and Docot, who are being held at the EPD, refused to comment on the charges against them, saying they will hire a lawyer to represent them.