BI deports fraudster wanted in Russia

MANILA, Philippines — A Russian wanted by authorities in Moscow for large-scale fraud has been deported by the Philippine government, the Bureau of Immigration said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente identified the fugitive as 39-year-old Anton Likharev, who was deported past midnight on Wednesday aboard an Etihad Airways flight to Dubai that would then proceed to Moscow.

According to Morente, Likharev was escorted by two Russian police officers on his trip.

Before being deported, Morente said the Russian had been detained for nearly three years at the BI detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig, due to pending requirements and clearances for his deportation.

He was arrested in March 2019 while trying to extend his stay as a tourist at the visa section of the BI building in Intramuros, Manila.

READ: BI arrests Russian fugitive wanted for fraud

Morente said BI operatives arrested Likharev after discovering that he was on the agency’s wanted list of undesirable aliens who had been ordered deported by the bureau.

It was then learned that Likharev was issued a summary deportation order by the BI Board of Commissioners in December 2018.

Russian authorities charged Likharev for crimes involving the acquisition of other people’s property by means of deceit, in violation of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

According to the BI, Likharev is the same guy who made headlines in 2017 when he was arrested for violating the Fisheries Code of the Philippines and a municipal ordinance when he killed a green sea turtle with a spear in Dauin, Negros Oriental.

He reportedly denied intentionally killing the turtle and insisted on not being aware of the area being a marine sanctuary.

ATM