Another Japanese fugitive suspected of being a member of the Luffy fraud syndicate was arrested in Pampanga last March 15, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Friday.

BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado identified the Japanese suspect as Odaira Kai, 35, who was arrested in his condominium unit along Jose Abad Santos Ave., San Fernando City, Pampanga.

Sandoval said Odaira arrest was based on the mission order issued at the request of the Japanese government which reported his presence in the country.

"Japanese authorities alleged that Kai and his accomplices stole ATM cards by impersonating law enforcers in order to deceive an aging victim into surrendering his bank cards under the pretext of police investigation," she said.

"Over 4 million yen in cash, equivalent to about US$27,000, was reportedly stolen from the victim through unauthorized withdrawals using the said stolen cards," Sandoval added.

A day before his arrest, a female member of the same syndicate identified as Kimura Natsuki was also apprehended by the BI in Makati City last March 14.

Kimura allegedly worked as a telephone operator for the syndicate's international scamming operations.

The arrested fugitives were detained at the BI custodial facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending their conduct of deportation proceedings.Robina Asido/DMS