ISLAMABAD, Feb 21: A criminal wanted in connection with several incidents of murders and armed attacks on the police, was arrested in Seoul, South Korea and handover to Crime Investigation Department (CID), here on Thursday, said police officials.

The wanted man escaped to South Korea 15 years ago to avoid arrest in connection with eight murders, including two policemen.

Earlier, Superintendent of Police (SP) CID Yahya Hussain Virk got information about the presence of the proclaimed offender (PO) in Seoul and decided to approach South Korean authorities.

The presence of the accused came to light after the CID spotted him in the capital but once again he evaded arrest.

Later during investigation under supervision of DSP Gulfam Nasir, it was revealed that the PO had travelled to South Korea — back and forth — several times on forged travel documents, since his escape in 1997.

It was further revealed that he was also married to a Pakistani woman and had three children from wedlock.

After the disclosure, CID approached the South Korean police. In response the PO was arrested in Seoul and sent back to Islamabad and handed over to CID.

The PO was booked in six separate cases of murder in which he had killed eight persons. He had murdered two people in the premises of Wazirabad court in 1996.

Later he also attacked and killed two policemen and escaped to Dubai from where he travelled to South Korea.

Meanwhile, the capital police also arrested nine outlaws from different areas of the city including five car thieves and recovered vehicles, wine and narcotics from them.

The Kohsar police in response of information regarding theft of a vehicle from Jinnah Super market conducted an operation which led to the arrest of an auto-thief and the recovery of the vehicle from F-7/1. However, another culprit managed to escape from the scene.

Similarly, Anti-Car Lifting Cell of Islamabad recovered a tampered land cruiser which led to the arrest of two car thieves.

The Industrial area police also recovered a tampered Suzuki Mehran car and arrested two.

The Bhara Kahu police arrested two and recovered 1.2kg of hashish and five bottles of wine from them.