Department of Justice. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
The rest of the $81-million funds stolen by hackers from the Bangladesh government has to be located first before another claim case can be filed in court.
Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Chief Legal Counsel Ricardo Paras III on Tuesday explained that they represented the Bangladesh government in court only for the $15 million which was a portion of the $81 million because the amount was readily available.
“Since what was available was the $15 million which is kept in the vault [of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas], that is where we could assist them,” Paras said.
“On whom the case will be filed for the remainder [of the $81-million], I am not privy to that,” he told reporters.
READ: DOJ wraps up probe on $15M of $81M heist money
Recently, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 53 has ordered the release of the $15 million on behalf of the Bangladesh government.
The money is the amount turned over by Kam Sin Wong or Kim Wong and Eastern Hawaii Leisure Company and was kept at the BSP.
“The court declared the Bangladesh government to the be the rightful owner of the said amount,” Paras said.
With the court order, the DOJ official said the Embassy of Bangladesh in the country may now coordinate with the BSP for the turnover of the amount.
Paras explained that the DOJ represented the Bangladesh government as counsel in this case after Bangladeshi officials sought legal assistance from the government under the UN convention on transnational organized crime.
He said the court proceedings for the release of the amount took only about two months since there was no opposition to the government’s petition.
READ: Timeline: $81-M Money Laundering
“There is a procedure. We have to follow our law on the Anti Money Laundering law and the procedure. We have to go to court to file. We just don’t give the money to anybody. There has to be a court order,” he explained.
On the other hand, Paras said they might file a similar case for the recovery of the more than $2 million which is currently being held by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).
“I suppose it might go through the same process. I will have to meet the officials of Pagcor on what the plan is and of course the Bangladesh officials,” he added. RAM/rga