Gaming tycoon absent in DOJ probes

Kazuo Okada —JILSON SECKLER TIU

Embattled Japanese gaming tycoon Kazuo Okada was a no-show in all the preliminary investigation of the criminal complaints filed against him by his former business partners who had accused him of defrauding them of some $10 million in corporate funds.

Instead of attending the hearings, Okada, who is facing two counts of estafa and perjury charges, was represented only by his lawyers in separate proceedings at the prosecutor’s office in Parañaque and Makati cities from December 2017 until last month, Department of Justice (DOJ) records showed.

In his counteraffidavits, Okada denies committing estafa and perjury.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II placed Okada on the immigration lookout bulletin on the request of Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment Inc., his former company which filed the charges against him.

Tiger Resort, operator of Okada Manila, had accused Okada of unlawfully collecting $3 million.