Thursday, May 22, 2008
Japanese fugitive nabbed
THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested a 50-year-old Japanese fugitive wanted for swindling an old couple of more than 25 million yen in a questionable real estate contract.
Hiroshi Takeuchi was arrested inside his condominium unit at the Harrison Mansion along F.B. Harrison Street, Pasay City by combined BI and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) operatives upon the request of the Interpol office in Tokyo, Japan.
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The Japanese national is wanted by authorities in Okayama Prefecture for swindling Michiyo Shiraishi, a 74-year-old woman, and her 78-year-old husband, Saita Shiraishi, of cash totaling 24,894,490 yen between December 2005 and May 2006.
Takeuchi, who had been hiding in the country for two years, will be deported not only for being an undesirable alien but also for overstaying his tourist visa.
"His arrest and impending deportation should send another message to other foreign criminals that the Philippines is not a place of sanctuary for fugitives from justice," Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said.
The suspect, who was then employed as a salesman for the Okayama branch of the Tama Home Inc., a homebuilder, was able to abscond with the money by misrepresenting himself as a bill collector of the company.
Investigation also revealed that Takeuchi left his native land on May 31, 2006. It was also found that the Japanese had been overstaying in the country since July 29 last year when his tourist visa expired. (FP/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (May 22, 2008 issue)
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