Tuesday, October 04, 2005
German wanted for kidnapping, robbery arrested (4:20 p.m.)
MANILA -- A German national wanted for abducting two compatriots in the Philippines and robbing them has been arrested northwest of Manila, the immigration bureau said Tuesday.
Harmut Eduard Joost, 65, from Berlin, was taken into custody Monday at a beach resort in Olongapo city, 80 kilometers northwest of the Philippine capital, Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez said.
A local court in Osterholz Scharmbeck, Germany, issued an arrest order for Joost in March, and a European Union arrest warrant was issued in December for his alleged conspiracy with two other Germans, who remain at large, and two Philippine government agents in abducting and extorting money from German couple Wilko and Norly Klauenberg, Fernandez said in a statement.
The Klauenbergs were abducted in Palawan province, southwest of Manila, on November 24, 1994.
The suspects reportedly stole cash, jewelry, documents and other personal valuables from the victims.
Under threat of violence and death, the couple was made to sign several blank sheets of paper, which Joost and his cohorts later used to execute the sale of real estate properties owned by the Klauenbergs, the immigration bureau statement said.
Joost could not present his passport or any travel document when confronted by immigration agents, and will be deported to Berlin within the next few days for being an undocumented and undesirable alien, it added.
Members of the German federal police are expected to arrive soon to escort Joost back to Germany.(AP) |
