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Fugitive Swiss national arrested at NAIA -- BI

Philippines | National

Fugitive Swiss national arrested at NAIA -- BI

By Jeffrey Damicog

A Swiss national, who had been convicted in his country for possession and distribution of child sexual abuse materials, has been arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Sunday, Oct. 5.

The BI identified him as Heinz Arbenz, 66, who was intercepted by immigration officers last Sept. 29 before he could board his flight to Bangkok, Thailand.

It said that Arbenz was immediately arrested by the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU) after receiving confirmation of his conviction and the new charges filed against him.

Aside from his convictions in 2017 and 2021, the BI said that in 2024, the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Canton of Aargau, Switzerland initiated further criminal proceedings concerning new allegations of possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material against Arbenz.

While the proceedings on the new charges were still pending, Arbenz absconded and left his country, it said.

It also said that Arbenz was found to have been in the Philippines for more than three weeks and he was suspected to be visiting Southeast Asian countries to victimize children.

The Swiss national will remain in BI’s custody pending his deportation.

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