South Korean fugitive escapes BI custody in QC

A 28-year-old South Korean fugitive, Na Ikhyeon, escaped from Bureau of Immigration (BI) guards in Quezon City on Tuesday, March 4, after attending a court hearing for an estafa case.

Na is wanted in South Korea for alleged involvement in deceptive investments and in the Philippines for failing to remit sales to a Filipina jewelry shop owner.

He was arrested in May 2023 and was held at the BI's facility while awaiting deportation, which was deferred pending the resolution of the estafa case against him.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado ordered the preventive suspension of BI personnel involved in the escape and warned that "heads will roll" if negligence or corruption is found.

A manhunt operation has been launched to recapture Na, who reportedly escaped through the court's restroom.

Four contractual BI personnel have been terminated, and criminal and administrative cases are being prepared against the BI escorts involved for infidelity in the custody of a prisoner.

The BI is also investigating if Na's lawyer had knowledge of the escape.