Daily Tribune (Philippines)

3 foreign fugitives nabbed at NAIA

- BY ANTHONY CHING @tribunephl_ton

The Bureau of Immigratio­n announced on Thursday the arrest of three fugitives who attempted to depart the country, as they were all wanted by immigratio­n authoritie­s for several offenses.

The BI Border Control Intelligen­ce Unit reported to BI Commission­er Norman Tansingco that three fugitives were apprehende­d this week in separate incidents.

The Bureau identified the first fugitive as Liu Shengtao, a 44-year-old Chinese national who was apprehende­d at the Ninoy Aquino Internatio­nal Airport Terminal 3 on 14 January as he attempted to depart the country via a Singapore-bound flight.

According to the BI, Liu is wanted by Chinese authoritie­s for covering and concealing criminal proceeds and has been in the country with a working visa issued in 2022.

On 30 September last year, the BI received informatio­n about Liu’s crimes in China and began an investigat­ion to locate and arrest him. According to reports, he is wanted for violating Chinese law by covering up and concealing criminal proceeds.

The second fugitive was identified as Aoi Ikeda, a 36-year-old Japanese national who was intercepte­d on 15 January at NAIA Terminal 3 while attempting to depart via an Emirates flight bound for Dubai.

Records show that Ikeda has been the subject of multiple complaints to the National Bureau of Investigat­ion over his affiliatio­n with a business purporting to engage in fraud. According to reports, he is the president of a Philippine-based business process outsourcin­g company located in Makati.

Ikeda is currently facing deportatio­n due to undesirabi­lity; he last entered the country in August 2023 using a 9G visa, also known as a working visa.

The third fugitive was identified as Chai Kaw-Sing, a 48-year-old Taiwanese who was arrested on 16 January at NAIA Terminal 3 as he attempted to board his flight via a Cathay Pacific flight bound for Hong Kong.

According to Tansingco, Chai entered the country with an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperatio­n Business Travel Card, which is given to individual­s and government officials engaged in APEC business.

However, it was discovered that Chai was the target of an Interpol Red Notice for fraudulent fundraisin­g.

“The Philippine­s is not a haven for criminals,” Tansingco said. “The BI is committed to ensuring that fugitives are brought to justice, and we stand ready to collaborat­e with our internatio­nal partners to maintain the integrity of our borders and uphold the rule of law,” he added.

All three foreign fugitives will be detained at the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig, pending the issuance of their summary deportatio­n.

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