Police investigating how South Koreans escaped SPD detention cell

October 12, 2020

Criminal investigators on Monday said they are investigating the duty jail personnel in their detention cell inside the Southern Police District (SPD) compound after two South Korean suspects escaped last October 10.

The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) said the duty jailer was relieved from duty and placed under restrictive custody.

“ He ( the duty jailer) will be charged both administratively and criminally if the investigation finds him liable to the incident,” it said.

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Sunday, one of the escapees, Kwon Hyeok Soon, was re-arrested while they continue to look for Yeong Jun Lim.

The two foreigners bolted from the detention cell of Criminal Investigation Detection Group- Metro Manila District Field Unit (CIDG MMDFU) inside SPD headquarters around 11:45pm on Saturday.

According to the initial report, Yeon asked the duty jailer to use the comfort room outside the detention cell and upon opening, he choked and hit the police officer several times in the head.

Kwon got out of the cell to help Yeon. They escaped by jumping from the window with a firearm.

CIDG said the two foreigners were arrested through an entrapment operation last June 22 in Paranaque City for violations of Access Devices Regulation Act in relation to Cybercrime Prevention Act and Slight Illegal Detention.

“The two were also fugitives from their home country (Korea) facing 10 year jail time for the crime of telephone fraud and are listed in the red notice of Interpol,” it added. Ella Dionisio/DMS