AN overstaying South Korean fugitive was arrested in Cebu for his alleged involvement in a telecommunications fraud, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco on Monday identified the Korean as Kang Hyeunok, 32, who was arrested in Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City by members of the bureau's Fugitive Search Unit on Aug. 14, 2024.

Kang was the subject of an Interpol red notice. A search warrant has been issued against him by the Suwon district court in Korea.

Authorities alleged that Kang heads a voice phishing syndicate that has operated since 2017 and which has already defrauded its victims of more than $840,000.

The syndicate's telemarketers reportedly disguised themselves as bankers and managed to induce victims into revealing personal information which they used to defraud and gain illegal profits.

Tansingco said Kang was arrested on the strength of a deportation warrant issued by the BI board of commissioners in October 2021 when it ordered his expulsion from the country for being an undesirable alien.

Tansingco said that aside from overstaying in the country, Kang is already an undocumented alien due to a canceled passport.

The Korean had been overstaying in the country for more than four years as records show that he last arrived here in July 2019 and did not depart since then.

He is currently detained at the BI warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City while awaiting deportation.

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