BI nabs Chinese wanted for tax scam

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested on Saturday a Chinese man wanted in Beijing for a 200-million-yuan tax scam.

 Xu Wenlu, 54, was nabbed by agents of the BI fugitive search unit (FSU) at the City of Dreams in Parañaque.

Xu, who was in the Interpol’s Red Notice list, has been wanted in his home country for criminal cases involving the use of fake special value-added tax invoices, which cost the Chinese government over 30 million yuan.

FSU chief Bobby Requepo said Xu is an undocumented alien since his passport had been canceled by the Chinese government.

Xu had served time for fraud in China before he fled to the Philippines,  Requepo said.

Xu is being held at the BI detention facility at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City pending his deportation.

The BI is also set to deport two South Korean fugitives who were apprehended recently in Manila and Mandaluyong.

Oh Gwangrok, 48, and Park Seungjae, 44, are wanted by authorities in South Korea.

According to the Korean embassy, Oh is wanted for fraud involving $48,000 and $41,000 embezzlement case.

He was nabbed in Malate on March 4.

Park was arrested in his rented unit at the Tivoli Garden Residences in Mandaluyong on March 5. He is reportedly wanted for smuggling and violating Korea’s customs law.

 Park allegedly smuggled 11 types of counterfeits, including federal reserve bonds worth $500 million.

The passports of Oh and Park had expired, according to the BI. – Rey Galupo