BI deports Russian fraudster

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has deported a Russian national wanted by authorities in Moscow for large scale fraud.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente identified the fugitive as 39-year-old Anton Likharev, who was deported past midnight, last Wednesday aboard an Ethihad Airways flight to Dubai, en route to his final destination in Moscow.

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Likharev was accompanied by two Russian policemen who fetched him at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to escort him on his trip.

The Russian was deported after he was detained for nearly three years at the BI Detention Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, pending requirements and clearances for his deportation.

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

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BI operatives arrested him after they discovered that he was on the BI’s wanted list of undesirable aliens who were ordered deported by the Bureau.

It was learned that Likharev was issued a summary deportation order by the BI Board of Commissioners in December 2018 based on information that he is wanted by Russian courts.

Russian authorities charged him for crimes involving acquisition of other people’s property by means of deceit, in violation of Article 159, part 4 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

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BI deports Russian fraudster

It can be recalled that in 2017, Likharev also made headlines after being arrested for violation of 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 denied that he intentionally killed the turtle and insisted that he has no knowledge that the area is a marine sanctuary.

Meanwhile, BI announced that it will be observing a 60% on-site work capacity from January 3 to 15.

In an advisory, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente shared that the move was in compliance with the approved recommendation from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) placing the National Capital Region (NCR) on Alert Level 3.

“As an effect, all BI offices in NCR shall be operating during weekdays, and will observe a 60% on-site work capacity, while adopting applicable alternative work arrangements,” he stated.

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