An American fugitive wanted in his country for fraud involving $850,000 has been arrested in Cebu while inquiring for a permanent resident visa, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Sunday, April 7.
The BI identified the American as Paul David Cardwell, 57, who was arrested by immigration operatives last Wednesday, April 3.
It said that Cardwell is a fugitive wanted for defrauding around $850,000 or more than P48M from a hospital in Wyoming, United States of America,” the BI said.
Prior to his arrest, the bureau said the BI’s tourist visa section found that Cardwell applied online for a visa extension last March 27.
It said the tourist visa section conducted secondary checks on Cardwell “after being prompted by the system that subject is a convicted US felon.”
Because of this, the bureau said its office in Cebu was alerted on the presence of the fugitive in the province.
“The American man previously made headlines due to the said case after he was ordered to serve more than 10 years in prison. He was quoted during the hearing saying ‘I was prideful, I was arrogant, and I’m a thief,’” the BI noted.
“Public records show that he was again arrested in Bangkok for fleeing his fraud case,” it said.
.Cardwell remains in detention pending his deportation, it also said.