American-Canadian rape suspect falls

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced yesterday the arrest of an American-Canadian man who fled to Malaysia after he was accused of raping a 17-year-old girl in Subic, Zambales in March last year.

Fouad Bounab, 54, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 from Kuala Lumpur on Saturday night, BI port operations chief Grifton Medina said.

Bounab was escorted by two members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who picked him up in Kuala Lumpur after he was arrested by Malaysian authorities, according to Medina.

Upon his arrival at the airport, the suspect was brought to the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Rommel Tacorda, head of the BI’s border control and intelligence unit, said Bounab is on the wanted list of the Interpol, which issued a red notice for his arrest.

“He fled to Malaysia to evade prosecution for his crime in the Philippines. Our counterparts in Malaysia were able to trace his whereabouts. He was arrested and brought back to Manila,” Medina said.

The suspect allegedly lured the victim to have sex with him through social media.

Tacorda said Judge Gemma Logronio of the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court issued an arrest warrant for Bounab on July 8.

Authorities said the suspect is also facing a separate case for violating the anti-trafficking and cyber crime laws before the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court.