By Niceforo Balbedina
FILE PHOTO
PASAY- An overstaying Japanese national wanted by authorities in Tokyo for embezzlement was nabbed by Immigrations operatives, the bureau said yesterday.
In a press release, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) identified the fugitive as Fuminori Sato, 37, who was apprehended last Thursday at the headquarters of the Pasay City police station.
Sato was reportedly already facing charges for violating the Republic Act 9262 or anti-violence against women and children and was out only on bail, said BI Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) Chief Bobby Raquepo.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente issued the mission order at the request of the Japanese embassy who informed of the BI of Sato’s standing warrant issued against him by a Japanese court.
Japanese police records show that Sato was asked by a compatriot to keep her bank book back in 2012.
He, however, took advantage of this and reportedly withdrew a sum of 200,000 Japanese Yen or almost 100,000 Philippine Pesos for his personal use, BI said.
“We had to be very discreet as there was a threat that he would destroy the evidence against him if he knew of the arrest,” said Raquepo.
BI investigations later found that Sato is an undocumented alien as his “passport already expired more than two years ago and was never renewed.”
Sato arrived in the Philippines as a tourist on December 4, 2013, and never bothered to extend his stay.
He will thus be deported for being an overstaying and undocumented alien after which he will be placed in the BI blacklist to prevent him from re-entering the country, the BI said.