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Exec flees Tijuana abductors
San Diego Union ^ | April 8, 2006 | Anna Cearley and Diane Lindquist

Posted on 04/08/2006 8:30:52 AM PDT by radar101

A high-level U.S. executive who was kidnapped after crossing the border managed to escape yesterday after grabbing a revolver while two kidnappers were dozing.

Yong Hak Kim, a U.S. citizen who was born in South Korea, locked his abductors in a bathroom of the house where he was being held and ran outside for help, Mexican authorities said.

Kim was picked up by police after a resident called authorities to report a street disturbance. Hours later, as he was en route to the United States, Mexican authorities announced the detention of five suspects in connection with the Thursday morning kidnapping.

The conclusion to the 24-hour episode provided some relief for many here who worried that kidnappers were starting to target foreign businessmen. Kidnapping groups typically prey on Mexican or Mexican-American businessmen.

South Korean officials said yesterday that Kim, who is in his 50s and has dual citizenship, is president of Amex Manufacturing. Some of the suspects were employed at the company, Mexican authorities said.

Amex offers forklift rentals and other support services to maquiladoras, and its clients include Hyundai, Samsung and Sony. Mexican authorities said Kim lived in the Los Angeles area and he was traveling to work in Tijuana when he was kidnapped.

At a brief news conference at city police headquarters shortly after he was picked up by police, Kim thanked authorities and said he wanted to see his family. City police officials said two of his kidnappers were in the house when Kim escaped, but they managed to flee before patrols arrived. It wasn't clear whether those two are among those who were captured. Mexican authorities said they still were looking for other suspects.

“Because of the way this took place and other facts, we don't believe that this was an organized group of kidnappers,” said Luis Javier Algorri Franco, the city's director of public security.

Algorri noted that the kidnappers intercepted Kim in an older model car. Kidnappers often use sport utility vehicles. Algorri also said the kidnappers communicated with a Nextel radio immediately afterward to demand a ransom. “This isn't normal for a kidnapping,” he said. “An organized group normally brings the person to a house and then after two or three days they start the negotiations.”

They also didn't appear to have a cache of sophisticated weapons. Apart from the revolver Kim grabbed to escape, authorities found two toy guns at the home, Algorri said.

Algorri characterized Kim's escape as “a heroic and courageous act.”

Kim, who was present during the news conference at city police headquarters, spoke little Spanish or English, Mexican authorities said yesterday morning.

They said Kim didn't appear to have been physically harmed by his captors.

Baja California Attorney General Antonio Martínez Luna said yesterday in a separate news conference to announce the arrests that Kim was kept chained inside the house, but he managed to grab the gun after waiting for his captors to fall asleep. Then Kim forced them to release him, Martínez said.

Algorri said Kim locked his captors inside the bathroom before fleeing.

Mexican authorities said Kim was slightly injured when he jumped over a fence and tried to flag down the driver of a truck for help. The driver apparently was scared off by the gun-wielding Kim.

Sometime after 6:30 a.m., police showed up in response to a report of an armed man in the street and confirmed Kim's identity. He was found in the eastern side of town, in a section called Centenario.

After showing police the house where he had been held, Kim was brought to city police headquarters in downtown Tijuana. Dozens of police with assault weapons guarded the building and blocked the streets as Kim was reunited with his wife, said Victor Ramírez, a city police spokesman.

Kidnappers long have been a major crime problem throughout Mexico. Many abductions are not reported to police because families of victims often don't trust authorities, and that makes it nearly impossible to estimate how many occur.

Judith Bryan, spokeswoman with the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, said yesterday afternoon that Kim “was in transit to go back to California and was being escorted by the U.S. Consulate and family.”

In the United States, he would be debriefed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, she said.

In Baja California, Martínez said the investigation involved the cooperation of the United States and South Korea. Two South Korean officials joined him at the state agency's press conference after the suspects' arrests.

Daniel Romero Mejía, president of Consejo Coordinador Empresarial de Tijuana, a council of businesses, said local executives were relieved that Kim escaped but were concerned the incident might deter economic growth.

“This event could hurt some of the investment we already have in Mexico and the governor's efforts to promote the area to new investors,” he said. But he noted that other parts of the world seeking foreign investment also have security problems.

Kim appeared noncommittal about continuing to work in Tijuana after his ordeal, according to a recording of the morning news conference with city police.

“Yeah, I want to work in Tijuana, but for now I don't know,” he said.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; Mexico; US: California
KEYWORDS: actionhero; borders; immigration; kidnapping; mexico; stunage; tiajuna
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1 posted on 04/08/2006 8:30:53 AM PDT by radar101
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To: al baby; Tijeras_Slim; dead
A high-level U.S. executive who was kidnapped after crossing the border managed to escape yesterday after grabbing a revolver while two kidnappers were dozing.
Yong Hak Kim, a U.S. citizen who was born in South Korea, locked his abductors in a bathroom of the house where he was being held and ran outside for help, Mexican authorities said.

Thereby thoroughly stuning their beebers!

2 posted on 04/08/2006 8:34:08 AM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: radar101
Yong Hak Kim, president of Amex Manufacturing, was kidnapped Thursday morning in Tijuana.

3 posted on 04/08/2006 8:34:15 AM PDT by radar101 (The two hallmarks of Liberals: Fantasy and Hypocrisy)
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To: radar101

I can't believe that drug gangs are not kidnapping wealthy Americans all the time and holding them for ransom.


4 posted on 04/08/2006 8:35:20 AM PDT by doug from upland (Stopping Hillary should be a FreeRepublic Manhattan Project)
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To: radar101

I love a story with a happy ending!


5 posted on 04/08/2006 8:35:54 AM PDT by Emmet Fitzhume ("It is better to be alone than in bad company.")
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To: radar101

Good for him! Gutsy move.


6 posted on 04/08/2006 8:39:49 AM PDT by Ramius (Buy blades for war fighters: freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net --> 1100 knives and counting!)
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To: radar101
...managed to escape yesterday after grabbing a revolver while two kidnappers were dozing.

Even though they were arrested, I doubt they'll do more than a few years, if that. He should have killed them, I would have. Now they'll just try this again, and the next victim might not be so lucky.

7 posted on 04/08/2006 8:42:57 AM PDT by CrawDaddyCA (I ain't learning no friggin' Spanish!! This is America, you learn English!!)
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Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

To: radar101
Yong Hak Kim for new DHS Chief!

(He'd do the job Bush/Chertoff won't do)

9 posted on 04/08/2006 8:44:31 AM PDT by DTogo (I haven't left the GOP, the GOP left me.)
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To: doug from upland

I can't believe that drug gangs are not kidnapping wealthy Americans all the time and holding them for ransom.

They aren't. Druggers make so much money that they have to bale it.

These are kidnappers who do this as a specialty.

There is an entire class of people here in San Diego who are wealthy enough to buy homes in San Diego (and, yes, they are not citizens, and do not pay taxes). To operate their businesses in TJ, they put on funky old Salvation Army reconditioned clothes, climb into ther "beater? 85 Toyota Corolla, and go to TJ.

The appearance of wealth will get you kidnapped. The majority of kidnapped person end up in a ditch a few miles south of TJ, bullet through the back of the head, and hands bound behind their backs.


10 posted on 04/08/2006 8:45:14 AM PDT by radar101 (The two hallmarks of Liberals: Fantasy and Hypocrisy)
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Comment #11 Removed by Moderator

To: radar101

If you know someone who owns an expensive home and does not pay taxes, turn him in to the IRS. You can do it anonymously.


12 posted on 04/08/2006 9:10:44 AM PDT by doug from upland (Stopping Hillary should be a FreeRepublic Manhattan Project)
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To: doug from upland

Companies like Monsanto hire execs and researchers from foreign nations to work for them, sometimes on contract, sometimes as employees, they work here for years, never becoming citizens and then they retire and go back to their nations. Tons of doctors in the US do the same thing. They may not pay taxes, but they do pay bills, utilities, loan payments and sales tax.


13 posted on 04/08/2006 9:28:11 AM PDT by Mrs. Shawnlaw (No NAIS! And the USDA can bugger off, too!)
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To: doug from upland
If you know someone who owns an expensive home and does not pay taxes, turn him in to the IRS. You can do it anonymously.

I think the IRS is too busy collecting taxes from the 20 million "law abiding, taxpaying" illegals.../sarcasm

14 posted on 04/08/2006 9:51:49 AM PDT by rolling_stone (question authority!)
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To: CrawDaddyCA
He should have killed them, I would have.

Self defense or not, killing someone in Mexico might not be such a great idea.

15 posted on 04/08/2006 9:57:00 AM PDT by Cementjungle
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To: doug from upland

Doug do you pay taxs ? Ha Ha HA .

I will turn in my Brother in law thanks for the tip


16 posted on 04/08/2006 10:08:48 AM PDT by al baby (Father of the Beeber)
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To: radar101
Kim was picked up by police after a resident called authorities

Called the authorities for help against his captors? How could they tell the difference?

Wasn't the Mex 911 call the END of him...?

17 posted on 04/08/2006 10:09:02 AM PDT by gaijin
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To: doug from upland

Again--you encounter the "We don't want to OFFEND Hispanics" attitude.
Same bosses are in control of IRS as the ICE -Homeland Security bunch.


18 posted on 04/08/2006 10:14:11 AM PDT by radar101 (The two hallmarks of Liberals: Fantasy and Hypocrisy)
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To: radar101

That's what they get for eff-ing with a Korean.


19 posted on 04/08/2006 10:17:57 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: radar101
Kim appeared noncommittal about continuing to work in Tijuana after his ordeal,

Geeee, ya' think?!

20 posted on 04/08/2006 10:35:44 AM PDT by Clock King ("How will it end?" - Emperor; "In Fire." - Kosh)
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