Friday, November 30, 2007 2 Koreans charged over used cars
THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday filed falsification and estafa charges against two Koreans who allegedly defrauded a fellow Korean in their used cars venture.
Medardo de Lemos, NBI Central Visayas chief, lodged the charge against Ji-U Bak, also known as Ritchie Park, and his uncle Shin Kyun Su, also known as Simon Shin, before the Office of the Mandaue City Prosecutor.
The complaint was a result of an investigation NBI agents conducted in relation to the complaint filed by another Korean, Won Ho Choi, before the agency. Partners
Choi, in his complaint, accused Bak and Su of allegedly running off with 11 second-hand cars that he sent to the Philippines from Korea.
The shipment was in line with their used cars venture, the S.B. Motors, to which they were all partners. The business is based at the North Reclamation Area and registered in Mandaue City.
Choi, according to the NBI, would send cars to the Philippines from Korea. He would buy the cars there and took care of the shipping plus the customs duties when the cars reached the Port of Cebu.
Bak and Su would receive the cars, register these under Choi’s name to protect the latter’s investment and sell them. The registration is transferred to the new owner only after payment is made.
Shipment
Choi, in his affidavit, said he was to earn a uniform rate of P25,000 per car for 41 of the 52 units he sent to Cebu.
He said the first shipment to Cebu arrived in December 2006. When the venture made money, he sent another shipment last January.
When the cars were all sold, another shipment was sent in April. This was when problems came up.
Out of the 13 vehicles Choi sent in the April 2007 shipment, 11 vehicles could not be accounted for by Bak and Su.
He said Bak and Su could no longer be found in their old address.
Worse, when he went to the NBI for assistance, the agents were able to find out that the registration documents for the 11 cars were all fake. (KNR)
