A Japanese con artist wanted by Tokyo authorities has been captured by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in Makati City.
Eiji Shigematsu, 48, was seized on February 7 along Ayala Avenue, Bel Air Village, Makati City by BI fugitive search unit (FSU) operatives, said Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.
Upon receiving an intelligence report from the Japanese government regarding Shigematsu’s presence in the Philippines, Viado released the mission order which led to his arrest.
“We will deport him and he will be blacklisted and banned from reentering the country,” the immigration chief said.
In July of 2024, the Kajiki summary court in Japan issued an arrest warrant for Shigematsu following his indictment for theft, said BI - FSU Chief Rendel Ryan Sy.
Shigematsu and his associates had allegedly preyed on fellow citizens by orchestrating voice phishing scams wherein, posing as police officers, they would demand money.
The suspect has been taken to the BI warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City for the duration of his deportation proceedings.
In addition to his crime, his travel records indicate that he has been overstaying, having come to the country on October 18, 2019.
