Voice Phishing Mastermind Who Embezzled 1.1 Billion Won, Repatriated from the Philippines to Korea

Impersonating Prosecutors and Financial Institutions to Defraud 1.1 Billion Won from 91 People
Filing False Cases, Evading Domestic Extradition... Arrest Warrant to Be Requested

The ringleader of a voice phishing organization, who was imprisoned locally in the Philippines after embezzling over 1 billion KRW by impersonating prosecutors and financial institutions, was repatriated to South Korea following a self-harm incident.

The National Police Agency announced on the early morning of the 22nd that Mr. A (40), the ringleader of the voice phishing organization detained at a Philippine immigration detention center, was repatriated to South Korea.

Mr. A is accused of establishing a voice phishing organization based in Baguio, Philippines, from June 2016 to April of the following year, and defrauding 91 victims of approximately 1.14207 billion KRW by impersonating prosecutors and financial institutions.

The National Police Agency, after negotiating with Philippine authorities for the forced repatriation of Mr. A, recently received notification of approval for his deportation. On the morning of the 21st, two escort officers were dispatched to facilitate Mr. A’s repatriation; however, Mr. A strongly resisted by causing a self-harm incident at the Philippine immigration detention center, leading the Philippine police attach? to request additional escort officers from the National Police Agency.

Police investigations revealed that Mr. A had previously avoided repatriation by filing false cases against himself locally in the Philippines. He exploited the fact that repatriation is delayed until such cases are resolved. This time as well, he attempted to file a new false case, but when the escort team raided, he caused the disturbance, according to police.

The National Police Agency determined that additional personnel were necessary to manage the local situation and escort Mr. A safely. Therefore, on the same day in the afternoon, an escort team consisting of one officer from the Interpol International Cooperation Division and two officers from the Chungnam Provincial Police Agency, the requesting police station, was dispatched.

While the additional escort team was en route to the Philippines, the Philippine authorities reversed their approval decision for repatriation, citing the need for a psychiatric evaluation of Mr. A. In response, the Philippine police attach?, the Korean Desk officer, and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines emphasized the seriousness of Mr. A’s crimes and the necessity of additional personnel to ensure safe repatriation. As a result, the repatriation decision was reinstated three hours before boarding the aircraft.

The police coordinated in advance with the airline to separate Mr. A from general passengers during boarding and executed an arrest warrant on board the aircraft. The repatriation was completed through Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 22nd. The police plan to apply for an arrest warrant for Mr. A.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.