The government has requested assistance from other countries to extradite a Spanish fugitive who was refused entry into Singapore and put on a return flight to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport’s restricted area for passengers.
Salvador Alejandro Llinas Onate was deported to Singapore on Saturday and is not allowed to re-enter Taiwan, as Interpol has issued a “Red Notice” for his arrest. He is also wanted by Spanish and Italian authorities, the National Immigration Agency (NIA) said.
The NIA said it is working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to extradite him to Spain and is seeking assistance for his return so he can face legal punishment for allegedly operating a car rental scam in Italy.
Photo: Tony Yao, Taipei Times
When he arrived in Taiwan yesterday morning, the NIA denied him re-entry; he is permitted to stay in the airport’s Security Restricted Area for air travelers, the NIA said.
The NIA said it had arranged a room for him, is providing him with three daily meals, and that he is free to communicate with family members and lawyers.
Llinas Onate has been indicted by Italian prosecutors for allegedly leading a 30 million euro (US$32.6 million) car rental scam and setting up a fraudulent company in Trento, Italy. He obtained permanent residency in Taiwan in 2021 after entering via a dependent visa in 2019.
The NIA said that it had ordered him on Oct. 14 to leave the country within 10 days.
The Taipei High Administrative Court on Saturday ruled that the deportation had flaws and ordered Llinas Onate’s release, but it came too late, as NIA officers had escorted him to a flight to Singapore earlier that day.
“It is an important policy in all countries to crack down on financial crime and fraud operators, and the NIA adhered to the laws by expelling wanted international criminals to safeguard our national security and public safety. It had followed the proper and legal process,” NIA officials said.
The NIA also said that the deportation was in accordance with the Regulations Governing Forcible Deportation of Foreigners (外國人強制驅逐出國處理辦法) and Article 18 of the Immigration Act (入出國及移民法), which state that someone who might “endanger national interests, public security, public order or the good customs of the State,” can be prohibited from entering Taiwan.
Additional reporting by Wang Kuang-jen
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