TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A 47-year-old Spanish national in Taiwan for the past five years has been ordered to leave by Oct. 23 for involvement in an auto fraud case in Italy valued at more than NT$1 billion (US$32.77 million).

Salvador Alejandro Llinas Onate was placed on the Interpol “red notice” list for criminal involvement in the sale of approximately 1,200 rental cars in Italy. His company filed for bankruptcy in 2019, and he soon absconded from the country, first traveling to Paraguay before eventually arriving in Taiwan, per PTS. 

Taiwan’s Immigration Agency notified Onate on Sunday (Oct 13) that he has 10 days to leave the country for violating Article 18 of the Immigration Act (入出國及移民法). Immigration authorities said they have the right to bar entry into the country for any individual who “endangers national interests, public security, public order, or the good customs of the state.”

Chen Han-ping (陳漢平), captain of the Immigration Agency special task force, said that persons violating Article 18 of the Immigration Act may be forcibly deported or ordered to leave the country. During his time in Taiwan, Onate has been allegedly running restaurants and operating several companies.

Spanish media have also reported that Onate has been in Taiwan, though his identity was not revealed until recently.

"Spain and Italy do not have a mutual legal assistance agreement with Taiwan. Secondly, we do not participate in Interpol, so we have no way to control or track these criminals who are circulating internationally," said Lin Yu-shun (林裕順), professor at Central Police University’s Department of Criminal Investigation.

Without participation in international crime-fighting organizations, legal experts warn that Taiwan may face more problems involving foreign fugitives in the future. For this reason, more international cooperation with Interpol and other organizations is needed.