BI nabs Japanese man wanted for fraud

MANILA, Philippines—Bureau of Immigration agents have arrested a Japanese national wanted by authorities in his country for large-scale fraud.

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said his men arrested Ryuchi Ohira, 45, upon the request of the Japanese embassy.

“The fugitive is now detained at the bureau’s jail in Bicutan, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings,” David said in a statement.

Armed with a mission order from David, members of the BI Fugitive Search Unit arrested Ohira on Nov. 21 at a house along Dr. J. Garbriel Street in Baclaran, Parañaque City.

Lawyer Maria Antonette Bucasas-Mangrobang, BI acting intelligence chief, said Ohira was facing fraud and falsification of sealed private documents before a district court in Kofu, Japan.

Ohira allegedly withdrew ¥500,000 yen from the postal savings account of another Japanese national on July 22, 2005 in Yamanashi prefecture by falsifying the withdrawal slip and signature of the depositor.

Mangrobang said Ohira had been on the wanted list of the Japanese police since September last year when the Kofu court issued a warrant for his arrest.

Ohira was also an undocumented alien as a result of the expiration of his Japanese passport on Jan. 4, Mangrobang said.

She said a check of the bureau’s records showed that the fugitive had been hiding in the country since Oct. 29 when he arrived in Manila after fleeing Japan to evade prosecution.

The Japanese embassy in Manila sought the bureau’s help in locating Ohira, who will be deported as soon as the BI board of commissioners issues the order for his expulsion.