EPD holds on to Estonian fugitive

MANILA, Philippines - The Eastern Police District will continue to detain an Estonian fugitive until the extortion charges filed against him by a television newscaster’s son are resolved, an official said yesterday.

EPD director Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel said they will continue invoking the International Police red notice to hold Urmas Saask, alias Veikoo Soori, 36, who is wanted in his country for various crimes.

Saask tried to leave the Philippines after a prosecutor in Taguig City ordered him released and told him to appear during the preliminary investigation of the extortion charges on Feb. 19 and 26, Laurel said.

Arnauld Ymanuel Clavio, 23, a son of GMA-7 newscaster Arnold Clavio, filed charges against Saask after their vehicles figured in a minor traffic accident in Mandaluyong City on Jan. 29.

The younger Clavio said he was taking photos of the damage to his car using his iPhone 5 when Saask grabbed the cell phone, fled and later demanded P28,000 to cover the damage to his Mercedes Benz SL5. 

According to Laurel, once the extortion case against Saask is resolved, the Estonian will be turned over to the Bureau of Immigration for “whatever action deemed necessary.”