MANILA, Philippines — Philippine immigration authorities have arrested a South Korean national wanted in his home country for multiple fraud cases, including high-stakes investment scams and alleged links to telecom fraud syndicates.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Sunday confirmed the capture of 35-year-old Chu Hoyong, who was apprehended last Wednesday at his residence on Cruzada Street, Makati City, by operatives from the bureau’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU).

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said Chu was arrested under a mission order issued at the request of the South Korean government, which had flagged his presence and illicit activities in the Philippines.

“We were informed that aside from investment scams, he is also involved in telecommunications fraud, which he possibly operated while staying in the country,” Viado said.

Authorities in South Korea have been pursuing Chu for years, with two arrest warrants issued against him by the Seoul courts. The first, from the Bukbu District Court in April 2022, stemmed from accusations that he defrauded victims by offering worthless collateral for loans, racking up losses of 2.26 billion won (approximately $1.4 million). 

The second warrant, issued in January, alleged that he swindled individuals out of 76.4 million won (around $53,000) with false promises of cryptocurrency repayments.

BI-FSU chief Rendel Ryan Sy noted that South Korean authorities consider Chu a “high-value target” due to his suspected ties to telecom fraud syndicates operating within the Philippines.

A check of Chu’s travel records revealed that he had overstayed his visa, having last entered the country on March 13, 2022.

Viado assured that Chu’s deportation is a priority. “We want him blacklisted and banned from re-entering the country,” he said.

For now, Chu remains detained at the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, awaiting deportation proceedings.