Korean man carrying gambling money arrested at Philippines airport

A Korean citizen, carrying gambling money worth 4 million Hong Kong dollars, was arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The man is identified as Kim Junheon, 35, a Korean citizen. Atty. Michael Mosquite, his attorney, has challenged his holding Customs officers pending inquest proceedings.

Kim has been under Customs custody since reaching Manila from Hong Kong via a Philippine Airlines flight on Friday night.

Atty. Marlon Agaceta, head of the Customs legal department, told ABS-CBN News that Kim went past the Customs lane and skipped the required X-ray inspection of his hand-carried luggage.

Kim, who allegedly kept saying “no English,” was prevented from exiting the Customs zone, Agaceta said.

A black mass was seen via X-ray in his gray luggage when it passed through the machine.

The mass was found to contain Hong Kong dollar bills amounting to 3,828,975 Hong Kong dollars after a day-long inventory witnessed by a private lawyer and an interpreter contacted by Kim.

Agaceta said Kim would face charges of unlawful importation of foreign currency and violation of a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas regulation prohibiting passengers from carrying foreign currency in excess of US$10,000.

Mosquite, Kim’s lawyer, however, said that his client did not fail to declare the amount of cash he was carrying as 4 million Hong Kong dollars.

Mosquite, Kim’s lawyer, argues that there was nothing illegal with what Kim did, assuming the money was declared.

He said Kim was a high roller in casinos in Macau and had won a large amount of money there, which he would then play in casinos in the Philippines.

The lawyer said his client was assured by representatives of the Bureau of Customs that charges would be filed against Kim as early as Sunday afternoon when a prosecutor is available.