'4.6 Billion Embezzlement' National Health Insurance Service Team Leader Fleeing Abroad Arrested in the Philippines

Hiding in a Luxury Resort in Manila

An employee who embezzled 4.6 billion KRW from the National Health Insurance Service and fled overseas was apprehended in the Philippines.

On the 10th, the National Police Agency announced that they had captured Choi Mo (44), who was accused of embezzling 4.6 billion KRW while serving as the head of the financial management team at the National Health Insurance Service, in cooperation with the Philippine police.

Choi Mo (left), who is accused of embezzling 4.6 billion KRW while serving as the head of the Financial Management Team at the National Health Insurance Service, was apprehended by police in the Philippines.
[Photo by National Police Agency]

Starting from April 27, 2022, Choi embezzled a total of 4.62 billion KRW by transferring withheld payment amounts for seized medical fees from 17 medical institutions to his own account over seven occasions, then fled to the Philippines. This was the largest amount embezzled within the organization. Despite the embezzlement continuing for about five months, it was confirmed that the internal audit system of the organization did not function properly, raising concerns about the absence of an effective management system.

The police issued an Interpol red notice for Choi and formed a tracking team composed of the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency’s Anti-Corruption Economic Crime Investigation Unit, the Korean Desk, and the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency Interpol team, conducting a pursuit for one year and four months.

Recently, the police confirmed that Choi was staying at a luxury resort in Manila, Philippines, and coordinated with local police to track his movements and escape routes while in hiding. They devised detailed plans, including verifying his identity through local informants such as laundry delivery workers.

To facilitate a smooth arrest, a letter from Lee Sang-hwa, the Korean Ambassador to the Philippines, was sent to the Philippine Minister of Justice, and Sang Sang-man, the Consul General of the Korean Embassy in the Philippines, personally met with the head of the immigration office to encourage the arrest, consolidating cooperative efforts.

On the 9th (local time), the arrest team composed of the Philippine Korean Desk and local police raided Choi’s hideout, and after five hours of surveillance, apprehended him at 6:13 p.m. as he was taking the elevator down.

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