2 more ‘Luffy’ robbery suspects fall

MANILA, Philippines — Two more suspects in a string of violent robberies in Japan, reportedly masterminded by a man identified as “Luffy,” were arrested by in BF Homes, Parañaque on Friday afternoon.

In a statement yesterday, Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said Fujita Kari, 24, and Kumai Hitomi, 25, were caught in a BI operation.

The two, who were declared as undesirable aliens, are the subjects of arrest warrants issued by the Tokyo Summary Court in September 2022 for theft in violation of the Japanese Penal Code, he added.

They were transferred to the BI jail facility in Bicutan, Taguig pendng their deportation.

“This is a major breakthrough in the case, as we have finally arrested more suspects involved in this major case in Japan. They will be finally facing their crimes in their homeland,” Tansingco said.

The BI deported Japanese fugitives Fujita Toshiya and Imamura Kiyoto on Feb. 7 and Watanabe Yuki and Saito Tomonobu on Feb. 8. All four have been detained in the country for the past few years pending the resolution of local cases filed against them.

Their lawyers have been accused of using dilatory tactics to delay their deportation by prolonging the trial of local cases against them.

Watanabe, alleged to be “Luffy,” and the three others were deported upon the request of the Japanese government after the local cases against them were dismissed.