Senate invites BIR, 2 junket operators

The two junket operators at Solaire casino and representatives of the Bureau of Internal Revenue are among the new resource persons to be invited to the next Senate hearing on the laundering of the $81 million stolen from the Bangladesh central bank.

The messenger of the remittance firm, Philrem Service Corp., who delivered the money to certain personalities will also be invited.

The junket operators were identified as Suncity Group Junket and Goldmoon Junket, while the Philrem messenger was identified as Mark Palmares.

The $81 million, stolen by hackers from Bangladesh Bank, entered the Philippine financial system through Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., and was sent to the accounts of junket operators in Philippine casinos through Philrem.

Businessman and junket operator Kim Wong, whose alleged fake account received the funds, said that junket agents Shuhua Gao and Ding Zhize had told him that the money would be coming into the Philippines.

The Senate blue ribbon committee’s fourth hearing on the issue was set for April 5.