P1.5M bribe offer to NBI agents gets Japanese into deeper trouble

A Japanese national who was arrested for car theft was slapped with another charge after he allegedly tried to bribe agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) with P1.5 million for his release.

Hamamoto Moriaki was arrested on Saturday by members the NBI’s Anti-Organized Crime Division after the agency received complaints of his illegal activities.

A subsequent investigation revealed that there was a standing warrant of arrest against him issued by Judge Myrna Lim-Verano of Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 160 for a car theft case.

Moriaki was apprehended at Networld Hotel in Pasay City based on the warrant. When brought to the NBI headquarters, Moriaki was allowed to make several calls to a lawyer.

Later, Moriaki allegedly offered P1.5 million to special investigators Eduardo Villa and Rodelio Velez and agents Marie Catherine Nolasco, Martinelli Cobsen, Aubren Cosidon and Tom Mocnangan for his immediate release.

When the agents refused, the Japanese warned them that somebody influential will call their superiors to facilitate his release anyway, Villa said in a report.

The agents then informed their superiors, who instructed them to play along and entrap Moriaki at the hotel.

When Moriaki took out bundles of P1,000 bills from his bag, the agents informed him that he had committed a violation of Article 212 of the Revised Penal Code (corruption of public official).

Moriaki, who remained in detention at the NBI jail, was brought to the prosecutor’s office for inquest proceedings for the new offense.