Deported Fugitive Returned To Taiwan After Singapore Rejection

TAOYYUAN (Taiwan), Oct 20 (Bernama-CNA) -- A Spanish fugitive who was deported by Taiwan on Saturday was flown back to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport early Sunday after been denied entry by Singapore, Central News Agency (CNA) reported citing National Immigration Agency (NIA).

The man, Salvador Alejandro Llinas Onate, was denied entry by Singapore on the grounds that he is wanted by the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), an NIA official told CNA.

Because Llinas Onate was deported from Taiwan, he is not allowed to re-enter, the NIA said in a statement.

The agency is contacting other countries that are willing to allow Llinas Onate to transfer to a third country before ultimately returning to Spain to face legal proceedings, it said.

For now, Llinas Onate will be placed in the Taoyuan airport's shelter before the authorities try to deport him again, CNA reported the NIA said.

According to a Taipei immigration officer, Llinas Onate, who ran a rental car company in Trento in northern Italy, is accused of illegally selling around 1,180 vehicles that did not belong to him to third parties in 2019 before fleeing from Italy to Taiwan.

Foreign media reports have said that Llinas Onate rented cars without paying any rent and then sold them to unsuspecting buyers.

Through the scheme, the 48-year-old raked in about 30 million euros (US$32.77 million) in profit, according to international news media. His car rental firm declared bankruptcy in 2019, and he vanished not long afterwards.

He is wanted by both Spanish and Italian judicial authorities over the matter, the NIA has said.

Taiwan's news media reported Llinas Onate obtained permanent residency in Taiwan in 2021 after entering the country via a dependent visa, and has run five companies in Taiwan, including two high-end restaurants in a prime district in Taipei.

The NIA has not released further information about this case or explained whether they were aware Llinas Onate was wanted by Interpol when they granted him permanent residency.

Taiwan is not a member of Interpol, widely believed to be due to opposition from Beijing, which objects to its inclusion in international organisations whose members are normally countries, it added.

-- BERNAMA-CNA