2 South Korean fugitives face deportation

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is set to deport two South Korean fugitives who are reportedly both subjects of an Interpol red notice for crimes committed in their country.

Choi Wonchul, 59, and Lee Jihwan, 47, were arrested by the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit last week, Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said.

The South Korean nationals were found to be overstaying in the Philippines, Viado said.

Choi was nabbed along United Nations Avenue in Ermita, Manila. He has a pending arrest warrant issued by a Seoul court for embezzlement and fraud.

Authorities alleged that Choi worked as a car dealer in 2008 and pocketed $65,000 of the payments made to him by customers.

He also reportedly defrauded other victims of $105,000 by falsely claiming he would sell their cars to interested buyers.

Choi was placed in the custody of the Manila Police District pending the resolution of his local case.

Lee was nabbed in Talisay City, Cebu by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by the Changwon District Court for allegedly beating and robbing a compatriot.