MANILA, Philippines — One of three Chinese nationals said to be members of a plane pickpocket ring was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on Saturday.
Immigration officer-in-charge Joel Anthony Viado identified the three Chinese involved in a theft incident on a Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight to Manila as Lyu Shuiming, 48; Xu Xianpu, 41, and Xie Xiaoyong, 54.
PAL flight attendants reportedly caught Lyu in the act of stealing valuable items in the handbag of a Filipina judge.
The bag was placed in the overhead compartment of the airplane during the flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Upon arrival at the NAIA, PAL flight attendants reported the incident to authorities.
Lyu was arrested after police found in his possession P63,000 in cash and other items owned by the judge.
Xu and Xie managed to board their connecting flight to Hong Kong, Viado said.