THE Bureau of Immigration yesterday said it has deported a Russian wanted by authorities in Moscow for large-scale fraud after nearly three years of detention in the bureau’s detention facility in Bicutan, Taguig city.
Anton Likharev made headlines in 2017 when he was arrested for violation of the Fisheries Code of the Philippines after he killed a green sea turtle with a spear in Dauin, Negros Oriental.
Likharev denied that he intentionally killed the turtle and said he has no knowledge the area is a marine protected sanctuary. He was allowed to post a P40,000 bail by a local court.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said Likharev was deported last Wednesday, accompanied by two Russian cops who came to fetch him at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
He was arrested in 2019 after he applied to extend his tourist visa at the BI main office in Intramuros, Manila. Records showed that Likharev arrived in the country in 2016 and had not left since.
He was apprehended as his name was included in the bureau’s list of undesirable aliens for deportation.
A summary deportation order was issues by the BI Board of Commissioners against Likharev in 2018 based on information that he is wanted by Russian authorities.
