Thursday, April 17, 2008

Trafficking Arrest Made at Airport in Philippines



By Julie Alipala

From the Inquirer:

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- A foreigner who allegedly posed as a US citizen to dupe job seekers has been charged and detained here along with his Filipino live-in partner, authorities said Wednesday.

Superintendent Jonathan Perez, Zambonaga City police officer in charge, said Yehezkel Goldenberg, 73, identified as a Romanian national, faces 17 counts of estafa (fraud) and illegal trafficking. No bail has been recommended for the foreigner, he said. Goldenberg had allegedly defrauded more than 30 people here before he was arrested in front of the Mabini Mansion Hotel in Manila on April 11 by operatives of the Manila Police District's Anti-Organized Task Force, Perez said.

Based on the complaints, Goldenberg allegedly promised the victims' lucrative jobs in the United States in exchange for money. Sometime in March, Goldenberg asked at least 12 victims, mostly women, to fly with him to Manila so arrangements could be made for their flight to the United States, specifically to the state of Nevada.

The victims said they went to Manila, where they stayed for several days, while Goldenberg was "processing their papers." Goldenberg later allegedly asked them to give him the "show money" -- P70,000 and $500 each -- required of those flying to the US. He then gave the victims tickets for Hong Kong and asked them to meet him at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport because he would fly with them to the US.

The victims could not find Goldenberg at the airport, but after a long wait, one of them spotted him in another lane with his live-in partner, Raquel Amper. The two were apparently on their way to boarding another plane. The victims immediately alerted airport authorities, who in turn called the Pasay police for help.

Goldenberg managed to slip away but Amper was arrested and immediately flown to Zamboanga.

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2 comments:

  1. Anonymous4:40 AM

    I heard that Yehezkel Goldenberg duped another batch of filipinos in Tagaytay . It was investigated by NBI in NAIA. Goldenberg was convicted by Judge WAGAN of RTC Branch 111, Pasay City on April 13, 2010 for violation of passport law. Another case for illegal recruitment is pending in Tagaytay City. Congratulation NBI.

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  2. what happened to goldenberg after arresting him on april 2008 ? and where is he now ?
    zketzef@netvision.net.il

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