MANILA, Philippines--The woman accused in a P300-million jewelry scam that allegedly victimized members of Philippine high society was taken Saturday by police on orders of a court from the Makati Medical Center and brought to a mental institution for examination.

Presiding Judge Esteban Tacla Jr. of Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court Branch 208 issued the order on Nov. 4 directing the transfer of Maria Elena ?Marilen? So-Guisande to the National Center for Mental Health for a psychiatric exam.

The Southern Police District, headed by Chief Insp. Allan Umipig, chief of SPD-District Intelligence Operating Unit, carried out the order Saturday.

Businessmen and socialites had filed cases of violation of the Bouncing Check Law, syndicated estafa and estafa against Guisande.

The complainants said they had entrusted their jewelry to Guisande to sell for them. Guisande, however, issued bouncing checks and failed to return the consigned jewelry, the complainants said.

They claimed Guisande pawned the jewelry instead then sold the pawn tickets.

According to friends, Guisande suffered from depression because of the scandal. She was confined in the neuro-psychiatry ward of Makati Medical Center where she was diagnosed with a bipolar mood disorder.

But the supposed victims said Guisande was using a mental disorder to avoid facing the charges against her.

Dr. Cecilia Tan, Guisande?s physician, had previously asked the court to give the hospital at least 48-hour notice ?to prepare her patient and for the hospital administration to make arrangements to prevent any undue disturbance or anxiety to the other patients who are suffering from mental disorder.?

The court said it had already given the hospital 10 days to comply.

Aside from Guisande, her husband Antonio Vicente Guisande, two sisters and two employees were also named in the complaints.