2/24/2005 -
In July of 2004, while trying to leave Japan, Bobby was arrested by Japanese police for failing to have a valid passport. The
US government had finally revoked Bobby's travel privileges. Bobby remains
in a Japanese jail where he is fighting extradition to the US.
Since 1992 Bobby has been a fugitive from American Justice, when he defied
a US Presidential decree not to do business in Yugoslavia. Bobby broke the
decree by playing a rematch with Boris Spassky. Recently, Bobby compounded
his problem by making Anti-American, Anti-Semitic, and pro-terrorist
comments on a Philippine radio station. This was the last straw. The
US government has been trying to use the attraction combination to draw
Bobby back to the US, so he can be mated in Federal court. If convicted, Bobby
faces 10 years in prison and a heavy fine.
Iceland has come to Bobby's
rescue. They have issued him a valid passport, so he can leave Japan.
Iceland immigration authorities have sent Bobby's passport via diplomatic
mail to Japan. This passport will allow Bobby to travel to western Europe.
In 1972
Bobby help put Iceland on the map, when he battled Boris Spassky for Chess
World Championship. Iceland is also trying to give Bobby Icelandic
citizenship. Hopefully, Bobby's new passport will free him from Japan.
However Hangin is not taking any chances. Hangin has forwarded, via US
mail, a monopoly get out of jail free card to Bobby. This should do the
trick and break this stalemate. This is not the first time that
Hangin has offered to help
Fischer.
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