BI nabs Japanese wanted for theft


Bureau of Immigration (BI) operatives have arrested a Japanese national wanted by authorities in Tokyo for alleged involvement in financial fraud.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said  32-year old Sato Shohei was caught on April 24 in 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 pursuant to 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 Shohei was already placed in the immigration blacklist, thus he is perpetually banned from re-entering the country for being an undesirable alien.

BI-FSU chief Rendel Ryan Sy said a court in Tokyo issued an arrest warrant against him for theft.

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.