Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) branch manager Maia Santos-Deguito and four others have been summoned to appear before the Philippines’ Department of Justice (DOJ) over the Bangladesh Bank funds heist.
Published : 18 Mar 2016, 06:02 PM
Assistant State Prosecutor Gilmarie Fe Pacamarra issued the summons on Friday, according to a report on CNN Philippines.
The four others are Michael Francisco Cruz, Jessie Christopher Lagrosas, Alfred Santos Vergara and Enrico Teodoro Vasquez.
The subpoena requires the respondents to personally appear for the preliminary investigation where they are expected to submit their counter-affidavits, the report said.
Representatives from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) will also appear before it to affirm their complaint, it added.
The proceeding will determine if there is a probable cause to file the case before the court. If no probable cause is found, the complaint will be dismissed.
Pacamarra warned the respondents that if they fail to comply with the summons, the case can be considered submitted for resolution, the CNN report said.
She said she would act only on the evidence on record.
Pacamarra also summoned the Anti-Money Laundering Council to affirm its complaint.
According to a report of Philippine Daily Inquirer, $81 million of the $101 million stolen from Bangladesh Bank’s account in the US was parked in five accounts of the RCBC.
The money was subsequently laundered in a casino and despatched to Hong Kong.
Deguito’s counsel, Attorney Ferdinand Topacio, told CNN Philippines in a text message that his client would take part in the proceedings.
But, it remains unsure how long the complaint will drag at the Justice Department as it would depend on the parties involved, the CNN report said.
The preliminary investigation is set for April 12 and 19 at 10am.