American sex offender, Turkish fraudster barred from entering PH
Immigration officers turn American sex offender Michael David Steinborn and alleged Turkish fraudster Amol Awasthi back upon their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, respectively on Nov. 26 and 27. Photo from the Bureau of Immigration.
MANILA, Philippines — A convicted American sex offender and an alleged Turkish fraudster were barred from entering the country, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Wednesday.
According to the BI, its officers turned away American national Michael David Steinborn and Turkish national Amol Awasthi upon their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Nov. 26 and 27, respectively.
The two were denied entry for being undesirable aliens due to their past criminal records, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said.
Under the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, aliens convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude shall be denied entry to the country.
The bureau noted that Steinborn was excluded for being a registered sex offender. He was convicted in Kissimmee, Florida in 1994 for indecent exposure. He is also a Tier 1 offender as he was charged with a less serious crime.
On the other hand, the BI said that Awasthi is the subject of an Interpol blue notice issued last year.
The blue notice, according to Interpol, is an international request to collect more information about a person, in relation to a criminal investigation.
The BI said an investigation is ongoing against Awasthi for his alleged involvement in transactions that defrauded the Indian government.
“Indian authorities suspected that Awasthi and his cohorts conspired to cheat the Indian government by importing fertilizers and other products at inflated prices and claiming government subsidy thereafter,” the BI noted in a press release.
The BI added that the Turkish national and his accomplices were also accused of having gained profits from selling overpriced fertilizers and raw materials, diverting their commissions to their relatives and companies registered abroad.
Steinborn and Awasthi were booked and boarded on the next available flight to their port of origin, the BI noted.
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