Canadian-American man wanted for rape arrested at Naia

MANILA, Philippines — A Canadian-American man accused of raping a 17-year-old girl in Subic was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported Monday.

BI port operations division chief Grifton Medina said 54-year-old Fouad Bounab reportedly fled the country to Malaysia to avoid prosecution of the crime he allegedly committed in March 2018.

Bounab was arrested by Malaysian authorities and was accompanied by two Philippine National Police (PNP) escorts on his way back to the Philippines last Saturday.

He was immediately brought to Camp Crame after arriving at Naia Terminal 3.

Bounab allegedly lured his minor victim to have sex with him through social media “for the purpose of prostitution and sexual exploitation”, the immigration bureau said.

An arrest warrant against Bounab was issued Olongapo City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Gemma Logronio in July this year.

Bounab was also placed on the Interpol’s wanted list prior to his arrest.

Aside from the rape charges, Bounab also faces a separate case for violating the anti-trafficking act and cybercrime law which was filed against him before a Caloocan court.