10 Koreans arrested for illegal online gambling operations
MANILA, Philippines—Police on Wednesday said they have busted an illegal gambling ring composed of Korean nationals during a raid on One Serendra condominium in the upscale Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group said that 10 Koreans, including two women, were arrested for operating an online illegal gambling catering to Korean bettors.
Payments of bets were made through online banking and credit cards.
Holding offices in separate East Tower units of One Serendra condominium, the Korean operators were arrested on Tuesday for violation of Republic Act 8484 or the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998.
Seized from them were assorted passbooks, mobile phones, identification cards, several documents, laptops, network devices, telephone sets, desktop computers, assorted cards believed to be used in their illegal activities.
Last January, agents of the National Bureau of Investigation raided One Serendra and The Luxe Residences in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, and on Gramercy Residence in Makati City and confiscated P100 million worth of shabu or metamphetamine hydrochloride, ecstasy and cocaine pills.
Senior Superintendent Gilbert Sosa, PNP ACG director, said that the operation was prompted by a request for assistance from the International Criminal Police Organization of South Korea in 2012. It asked the PNP to locate the Korean fugitives involved in the online gambling based in the Philippines.
Sosa said Senior Inspector Seo Seung Whan, Korean National Police officer assigned with Korea International Cooperation Agency, conducted the “ocular digital forensic preview on the seized computers.”
Arrested online gambling operators and the confiscated items were placed under the custody of ACG for proper documentation.
“The PNP ACG, on the instruction of the (Director General Alan Purisima) Chief PNP, will continue to focus their operation on transnational organized cybercrime groups,” Sosa added.
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