BI to deport German fugitive charged with multiple child abuse

MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Immigration (BI) started its deportation proceedings against a German national wanted in his country for multiple cases of child abuse.

In a report to Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr., acting BI intelligence chief Maria Antonette Mangrobang identified the fugitive as Gisbert Leistner, 50, who was arrested last April 7 in Angeles City, Pampanga province, by operatives of the bureau’s Interpol unit.

Mangrobang disclosed that Leistner will be deported as soon as the BI board of commissioners issues the order for his deportation and after the German embassy has provided him with his travel documents.

Records showed that Leistner’s German passport had already expired in 1999, thus he has remained undocumented during most of the time that he had hidden in the country. He arrived in the Philippines on Nov. 14, 1997.

Leistner was the subject of an arrest warrant issued by a district court in Konstanz, Germany where he was charged with 17 counts of sexually abusing minors.

A team of German federal policemen is expected to arrive in Manila to fetch Leistner and escort him back to Germany.