MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested a Japanese man wanted by authorities in Tokyo for large-scale theft in Pasay City.
In a statement on Thursday, Commissioner Norman Tansingco identified the fugitive as 55-year-old Takayuki Kagoshima, who was arrested on March 4 along Roxas Boulevard by operatives from the BI’s fugitive search unit (FSU).
The foreigner was arrested on the strength of a warrant which was issued pursuant to a summary deportation order that the BI board of commissioners issued against the Japanese in October 2023.
“In view of the fact that he was already ordered deported for being an undesirable alien, he will be sent back to Japan as soon as we have secured the required clearances for his departure,” Tansingco said.
Kagoshima’s name was already included in the Immigration blacklist, thus barring him from re-entering the Philippines, he added.
A check of his travel record showed that he is already overstaying as his last arrival in the country was on Nov. 7, 2022.
According to Japanese authorities, Kagoshima is subject of a warrant of arrest issued by the court in Fukuoka prefecture where he is charged for theft in violation of Article 235 of the Japanese Penal Code.
Tokyo authorities alleged that Kagoshima is a member of the “JP Dragon syndicate" that plotted to steal cash cards from their victims by pretending to be police officers.
It was learned that Kagoshima is an undocumented alien as his passport was already revoked by the Japanese government.
He is presently detained at the BI warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig while awaiting implementation of his deportation.
Scam accounts
Meanwhile, Tansingco warned the public anew on the proliferation of “scam accounts” on social media after his office received reports of e-mail accounts and social media pages extorting unknowing people in the guise of being official pages.
Last month, BI chief reported that he received information about an e-mail address sending invoices requesting PHP25,000 for a supposed package from Japan that was being held for release.
He said they received another similar complaint, extorting the victims PHP3,000 for the release of a package from Syria.
“In another complaint reported to us, a victim was being asked PHP20,000 for the release of luggage being held at the airport,” he added.
Tansingco clarified that the BI is not in any way connected to the release of parcels or cargoes.
He said they have forwarded details of the case to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) for investigation. (PNA)
