Man wanted in United States for sexual offences, including child-rape, nabbed in Kepong

KUALA LUMPUR: A 38-year-old American man, wanted by the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for various sexual offences – including the rape of a child – was detained in Kepong recently.

The suspect, Scott Barry Uchida from Seattle, Washington, was detained on April 21 by the Bukit Aman CID Serious Crimes Division (D9).

Bukit Aman CID director Comm Datuk Seri Abdul Jalil Hassan said the FBI requested for assistance to nab the suspect.

"The suspect was handed over to the Immigration Department for the deportation process.

"The process was finally concluded on Wednesday (June 23), where US authorities took the suspect back on a military aircraft for security reasons," he said on Saturday (June 26).

Comm Abdul Jalil said the suspect was able to enter Malaysia as he was not in the Interpol Red Notice list.

"US authorities only listed him as a wanted suspect.

"We have not found any evidence linking the suspect to any sex crimes in Malaysia," he added.

According to the FBI, the suspect is wanted for second degree rape, second degree rape of a child, promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor and third degree rape of a child in King County.

In January 2018, the Kirkland Police Department opened an investigation into the commercial sexual exploitation, rape, and unlawful imprisonment of three juvenile victims between summer 2015 and January 2018.

A 15-year-old victim reported to a Kirkland Police Department school resource officer that two men had raped her, forced her into prostitution and made her recruit others.

Uchida, who was determined to be one of the men, met the victim through the social media application meetme.com when she was 12 years old.

"Uchida took the victim to a Seattle apartment where he threatened violence against her and her family members and held her against her will.

"In March 2021, the Kirkland Police Department requested FBI Seattle's assistance in locating Uchida, who was thought to have fled the country.

"Thanks to successful international partnerships and the FBI's global reach, fugitives from justice can find few places to hide.

"This case highlights the determination of the FBI and Kirkland Police Department to hold someone accountable who is charged with harming our community's most vulnerable citizens," the FBI said in a statement.

The FBI Seattle Field Office thanked various parties, especially the Malaysian police, the Immigration Department and the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur for coordinating Uchida's deportation to the United States to face charges in King County.