DOJ summons RCBC branch manager

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday summoned the branch manager of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) to respond to the criminal complaint filed against her by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) in connection with the $81-million funds stolen by hackers from Bangladesh Bank (BB).

Once summoned, Assistant State Prosecutor Gilmari Fe Pacamara said that RCBC branch manager Maia Santos-Deguito will be required to submit her counter-affidavit.

Tentative date for preliminary investigation is on April 19, Saturday.

Aside from Santos-Deguito, facing complaint for violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Law include several John Does: “Michael Francisco Cruz,” “Jessie Christopher Lagrosas,” “Alfred Santos Vergara,” and “Enrico Teodoro Vasquez.”

Based on the complaint filed by the AMLC Compliance and Investigation Group, Deguito approved the opening of the bank accounts of the four “John Does,” which upon investigation the documents presented to the RCBC Jupiter branch turned out to be fictitious.

“Not only did respondent Deguito failed to verify the identities of the respondents within nine months from the time the accounts were opened, she even allowed respondent John Does to withdraw money stolen from Bangladesh Bank,” the complaint stated.

AMLC said when Deguito allowed the withdrawals, she already knew that the money was stolen from the Bangladesh Bank because there was already a request for RCBC to stop the payment.

“Despite that, respondent allowed and facilitated the withdrawal transaction of respondent John Doe,” AMLC said. JE

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