DoJ takes over Okada estafa raps
By Jeffrey Damicog
The Department of Justice (DoJ) has taken over the $10-million estafa complaint against Japanese businessman Kazuo Okada after a Pasay City prosecutor inhibited himself from handling the case.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that Pasay City Prosecutor Amerhassan Paudac granted the petition of the complainant, Tiger Resorts Leisure & Entertainment Inc. (TRLEI), to inhibit from the case.
“I understand that Prosecutor Paudac has inhibited himself,” Guevarra disclosed.
“So DoJ will handle any further motions or incidents in the Okada cases,” he added.
TRLEI sought Paudac’s inhibition due to alleged bias after the yet to be released resolution of the case was leaked and posted on Instagram and Facebook accounts of Okada’s Korean girlfriend Chloe Kim.
Because of this, Guevarra said he also instructed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe the alleged premature disclosure of the resolutions which allegedly showed that the complaint against Okada has been dismissed.
“We have requested the NBI to investigate the leak,” he said.
In its motion seeking Paudac’s inhibition, TRLEI, which operates Okada Manila hotel and casino, said the resolution has not been officially released and, yet, photos of it have been posted last May 18 on Kim’s social media accounts.