News Update Philippine 5 Koreans working for SPC-KEPCO nabbed in Cebu

NAGA CITY, Cebu - The Region 7 office of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI 7) last Friday arrested at least five Korean nationals working in this city's Salcon Power Corporation-Korean Electrical Power Corporation (SPC-KEPCO) for estafa. Ten Koreans working with the SPC-KEPCO, which is a joint venture between Korea and the Philippines, have been charged for estafa by a certain Mr. Lee, 46, of Taegu, South Korea who is working as site manager of JB Special Industry. According to lawyer Ernesto Macabare, NBI 7 Executive Officer, a warrant of arrest was served to Kin Chan Gyu, Jang Jae Yeong, Nam Ki Hoon, Cha Sang Go and Choi Sun Wok in their office at around 10 a.m. Friday.


Macabare bared that the five Korean nationals did not resist the arrest, although they refused to give any statements to media. They were accompanied by their lawyers in processing the documents necessary in their posting bail. Their lawyers also declined to talk with media. The Koreans later posted bail worth P60,000 each. They were later released after Judge Meinrado Paredes of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 13 signed their release order on the same date.

The five arrested Korean nationals, along with the five other Korean respondents were sued by their countryman, Mr. Lee for estafa last April due to their failure to pay a contract reportedly worth P52 million. The other five respondents were identified as Lee Chan Gyu, Choi Jin Young, Lee Yeon Woo, Choi Young Bong and Lim Bong Gil. Aside from the five who earlier posted bail, it was reported that two more also posted their bail on the same date, while the three remaining respondents are still at large. Judge Leoncio Jamulo Jr. of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 264 in Pasig City signed the warrant of arrest of the said Korean respondents. A certain Mr. Kim, who introduced himself as an interpreter for the complainant, told reporters that the 10 respondents were officers of Korea-based Doosan Heavy Industry, Inc. and Shiloh International Corp., major contractors of SPC-Kepco Power Plant in this city. Kim explained that the respondents hired JB Special Industry, as sub-contractor to construct the coal-handling system of SPC-Kepco last October 2009.

However, Kim disclosed that when JB Special Industry billed the respondents for the work they have rendered, the respondents failed to pay them an amount said to worth P52 million. "They just don't feel like paying us," said Kim. Kim also added that they have all the legal papers in line with the contracts they made with the respondents' respected companies. Further, he said that since his clients were not paid they could not proceed with project construction due to lack of funds. Kim also urged the NBI 7 to check the working documents and visa of the respondents and their workers due to allegations that a number of Korean workers here have no legal papers.

Sweating in their seats. A National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) officer questions the arrested Koreans working for the SPC-KEPCO power plant as they await their lawyer last Friday at the NBI 7 office in Cebu City. The Korean nationals were arrested for alleged estafa.