SEOUL, A man accused of embezzling billions of won while working at the state-run National Health Insurance Service was extradited from the Philippines on Wednesday. The man, identified only by surname Choi, 46, arrived at Incheon International Airport around 5 a.m. and was immediately transferred to the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency in the city of Chuncheon for investigation. Choi allegedly wired a total of 4.6 billion won (US$3.4 million) in company funds to his account on seven occasions since April 2022 and fled to the Philippines. The embezzled money was concealed after conversion into cryptocurrency, officials said. Police launched an investigation after the health insurance firm filed a complaint in September 2022. After one year and four months of tracking, police located Choi at a luxurious resort in Manila and arrested him on Jan. 9. "I am sorry to the company and to the people," Choi told reporters at the airport when asked if he had anything to say to the company. Choi said he acted alone without any accomplice, but remained silent when asked if there was any leftover money and why he committed the crime. The police plan to look into where the embezzled money was used and whether there is any money remaining, aside from the 720 million won already retrieved by the health insurance firm. Police plan to seek an arrest warrant for Choi as early as Wednesday evening. Source: Yonhap News Agency
Menu
