Salvador Alejandro Llinas Onate, a Spanish national wanted by Interpol, was flown back to Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport early Sunday after Singapore denied him entry.
Llinas Onate had been deported from Taiwan on Saturday but faced immediate refusal by Singapore due to his fugitive status, according to Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency (NIA).
Llinas Onate is accused of orchestrating a large-scale car rental fraud in Italy. He is alleged to have illegally sold approximately 1,180 vehicles that were not his, profiting around €30 million (US$32.77 million).
His rental company, based in Trento, declared bankruptcy in 2019, after which Llinas Onate fled to Taiwan, where he has resided since.
The NIA has stated that Llinas Onate, having been deported from Taiwan, is not permitted to re-enter.
For the time being, he will be held in a shelter at the Taoyuan airport while the authorities work on arrangements to transfer him to another country or return him to Spain to face legal proceedings.
Taiwan’s immigration authorities are seeking a third country that will accept him, as his return to Spain has yet to be secured.
Llinas Onate’s legal troubles date back to 2019 when his car rental firm went bankrupt.
Media reports reveal that he rented vehicles without paying any rent and later sold them to unwitting buyers, leading to the embezzlement scheme being discovered.
Both Spanish and Italian authorities are seeking his arrest. It is unclear whether Taiwanese authorities were aware of his fugitive status when they granted him permanent residency in 2021.
Taiwanese media have reported that Llinas Onate had a significant presence in Taiwan, where he operated five companies, including two high-end restaurants in Taipei’s prime districts.
He initially entered Taiwan via a dependent visa and subsequently obtained permanent residency, enabling him to establish his businesses in the country.
However, recent revelations about his criminal history have prompted his deportation.
The case gained attention after Italian media outlet Corriere Della Sera reported Llinas Onate’s whereabouts in Taipei on 10 October 2024.
In response, the NIA issued an order on 14 October, requiring him to leave Taiwan within 10 days.
The 10-day grace period, which expired on 23 October, was reportedly granted due to his family situation, as Llinas Onate resides in Taiwan with his wife and two young children.
Despite the NIA’s deportation efforts, the Taipei High Administration Court issued a ruling earlier on Saturday, declaring that the deportation directive had procedural flaws.
The court found that Llinas Onate’s personal freedom had been restricted without due process and ordered the NIA to release him.
However, the NIA proceeded with the deportation, sparking questions about the agency’s ability to bypass the court’s ruling.
As of now, the NIA has not provided further clarification on why the deportation proceeded despite the court’s decision.
Llinas Onate’s case highlights the complexity of Taiwan’s relationship with international law enforcement agencies like Interpol.
Taiwan is not a member of Interpol, a status widely attributed to opposition from Beijing, which has historically blocked the island’s participation in international organisations.
The NIA’s involvement in this case, however, underscores its efforts to cooperate with international authorities when dealing with individuals who may pose risks to Taiwan’s security and social order.
For now, the fate of Llinas Onate remains uncertain, as Taiwan continues to liaise with other countries to arrange his final deportation destination.
