Asia-Pacific News
Philippines to deport convicted American paedophile
By DPA
Feb 15, 2007, 4:03 GMT

Manila - The Philippine immigration bureau will deport a convicted American paedophile who was arrested in a remote southern city earlier in the month, an official said Thursday.

Immigration chief Alipio Fernandez said Richard David Kitch, 55, was arrested on February 5 in the house of his Filipino girlfriend in Butuan City, 810 kilometres south of Manila, upon the request of the US government.

Fernandez said Kitch arrived in the Philippines in September last year after fleeing the US to evade serving his prison sentence for the crime of predatory sexual assault against children.

A court in Illinois found Kitch guilty of committing multiple acts of sexual abuse on two children, both of whom were under 13 years old, between March 2000 and March 2003.

Kitch was convicted of the crime on November 29 last year. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime of sexual assault and another 14 years for aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child.

Fernandez said Kitch will be included in the blacklist and will not be allowed to return to the Philippines.