A businessman from Seoul, Korea is poised to file criminal charges against prominent and influential people in Basay, Negros Oriental for allegedly stealing from him about P2.2 million in scrap iron.

Noh Seok Ki said yesterday afternoon that the thefts at the former Construction and Development Corporation of the Philippines mining site in Barangay Maglinao in Basay are properly documented and with sufficient evidence to prosecute some people in court. Noh's Filipino legal counsel, Dumaguete-based Hansel Anito, said the Korean businessman had sealed in July 26, 2002 an P11-million agreement with the Philippine government through the Privatization and Management Office for the sale of scrap iron at the CDCP mining site in Basay.

Under the agreement, Noh can claim full ownership of machinery and equipment, buildings and other scrap metal inside the mine site.

The CDCP copper mine in Basay was foreclosed by the Philippine National Bank several years ago and was turned over to the Asset Privatization Trust, a group whose mandate ended in 2000, Anito said.

The PMO was created during the term of then President Joseph Estrada to take over the tasks of APT.

Anito said the unauthorized hauling and transport of scrap metal from the Maglinao mines had been documented by security guards who claimed to have been harrassed by armed men, who include some policemen whose names have been withheld pending investigation.

A security guard at the mines claimed in a report to Noh that a policeman had asked him to do some push-ups, while in another incident, another man also pointed an M-16 armalite rifle at one of the security guards, Anito said.

Noh said the P2.2 million in scrap iron losses only covered the month of April and part of May, since he and his lawyer began documenting the illegal activities.

His lawyer says the losses could amount to millions of pesos more with the undocumented thefts in many months past.

Pictures of the cargo trucks loaded with scrap metal and whose plate numbers have been written down are part of the evidence which Noh, through his lawyer, will present to the authorities.

Anito said Noh wants the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct an investigation first before they go to court.

Noh said he is disgusted over the alleged involvement of a ranking local government official in Basay in the ongoing scrap iron thefts.

He said the official had signed a contract with him to be his working manager, overseeing the cutting and hauling of scrap iron from the site, but the man apparently was "stealing behind his back," the Korean added.

"I am very angry...I feel sad," Noh said stuttered in broken English, almost on the verge of tears.

Anito said he has already written to the Basay official, in behalf of his client, terminating his services immediately.

The lawyer said he and Noh were scheduled to meet with this person last Friday but the man failed to appear*JSF

back to top