Could criminals join the Freemasons?

My friend has a history of violent crime in the UK. He has been arrested, detained, and cautioned by Police for domestic violence as well as battery in the UK. I understand he would never be invited to join the Freemasons and if invited he would be declined, which is in view of his criminal record. That is according to Masonic sources based in English speaking countries such as UK, Eire, Canada, USA, New Zealand, and Australia. However, I have been asked to intercede on behalf of my friend who is determined to become a Freemason. My friend is concerned whether it's actually possible to join the Masons in a developing country such as Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Romania or Russia etc. whose criteria for entry is possibly less stringent and more forgiving than First World countries such as the United States. Basically, I am concerned for my friend's sake whether it's actually possible to get in through the "back or side entrance" given that he is effectively barred for the rest of his life insofar as developed countries are concerned. Reason being, United Grand Lodge of England does not have global reach in terms of it's jurisdiction over lodges which are based outside the British Commonwealth, North America, Europe, and Australia. I would appreciate any definitive or intelligent response to the above questions.