Law enforcement authorities have arrested a Japanese and a Korean national in separate operations in Makati City and Mandaluyong City for alleged involvement in financial fraud schemes.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) identified the suspects as Japanese national Hideharu Inoue and Korean national Kim Sihun.
Inoue was arrested on Washington Street corner Dela Rosa Street in Makati City during an operation conducted by PAOCC operatives, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
PAOCC said Inoue is a senior member and manager of the “Luffy Group,” a Japanese syndicate allegedly involved in large-scale fraud operations across multiple countries.
“The group carries out a sophisticated scam by having its members impersonate government officials, including police officers and personnel from Japan’s Ministry of Finance, to gain the trust of potential victims,” PAOCC said.
Once trust is established, victims are reportedly deceived into allowing access to their homes, where suspects allegedly replace legitimate ATM cards with counterfeit ones used to withdraw funds.
The operation was carried out following a request from the Japanese Embassy in Manila, through Consul Haruka Nishimura, who sought assistance in tracking down Japanese fugitives, including Inoue.
Meanwhile, Kim Sihun—also known as Gim Si Hun—was arrested on June 18 at a mall in Mandaluyong City in a separate joint operation by PAOCC, PNP, and BI personnel.
PAOCC said Kim is a member of an organized crime group that allegedly defrauded victims by posing as a representative of Hyundai Capital, a Korean financial institution, to lure borrowers into advance-payment loan schemes.
Authorities said the group’s scheme has defrauded at least four victims, with losses amounting to about 29 million Korean won.
PAOCC added that Kim was previously arrested in 2021 for estafa but later escaped detention in Leyte in 2023.
He is also the subject of an Interpol Red Notice issued by the Seoul Central District Court, which was elevated to Control No. A-6264/7-2020.