South Korean girl safe after abduction in suitcase in Philippines
Sign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developments
SEOUL – An eight-year-old South Korean girl, who had been abducted and taken away in a suitcase by a man on Cebu Island, Philippines, has returned home safely, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said on Friday.
The girl appears unharmed, but was admitted to a hospital for checks.
According to officials and media reports, the girl had been taken from her home in Cebu at around noon, on Aug 10. Surveillance camera footage showed a man dragging a large suitcase before fleeing the scene in a car.
The suspect, in his 30s, appears to have broken into the family’s home and waited for the girl. Her parents, who came home later, found the girl gone and reported the case to the police.
A joint effort by local law enforcement and the Korean consulate in Cebu led to the suspect’s capture on Thursday evening and the girl was reunited with her family.
South Korean residents in Cebu helped by sharing details about the suspect’s car, including its model and registration number, on social media.
The parents expressed their gratitude to the South Korean embassy for its swift response in handling the situation and ensuring the safe return of their daughter. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
