THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced the arrest of a Japanese national wanted by authorities in Tokyo for involvement in financial fraud.

In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco identified the fugitive as Sato Shohei, 32, who was arrested last April 24 along Newport Blvd., Pasay City by operatives from the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU).

Tansingco said the arresting agents were armed with a warrant which he issued under a summary deportation order that the BI Board of Commissioners issued against Shohei last February.

“He was ordered deported after the Japanese government sought our assistance in locating and arresting him so he can be deported to his country to stand trial for his alleged crimes,” the BI chief said.

He added that the suspect was already placed on the immigration blacklist and “perpetually banned” from re-entering the country for being an “undesirable alien.”

According to BI-FSU acting chief Rendel Ryan Sy, Shohei was issued an arrest warrant by a summary court in Tokyo, where a case for theft was filed against him in October last year.

Japanese authorities have reportedly alleged that Shohei conspired with several other accomplices in stealing money from the bank accounts of victims whose ATM cards they obtained by “misrepresenting” themselves as “police officers” or financial service agency representatives.

The fugitive is currently detained at the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City while awaiting deportation. By JUN I. LEGASPI & HECTOR LAWAS

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jun I. Legaspi