Store helper jailed for pocketing P200,000

A case of qualified theft was filed against a clothing store helper who admitted that he connived with a policeman to make it appear that he was robbed of P200,000 in cash which he was supposed to deposit in the bank.

Joel Panancio, 24, a resident of Tondo and who worked for SR Fashion in Paco, Manila, was detained at the Manila Police District theft and robbery section after the owner and store manager brought him in and filed a complaint.

MD Salim Miah, 40, operation manager, and Masud Alam Milon, 35, owner, both Bangladeshi nationals, said Panancio was asked to deposit P200,000 in cash on May 15.

Panancio had been employed for five months and had made about eight cash deposits for the store.

The manager said he got worried when Panancio failed to return after several hours.

When Panancio came back in the afternoon, he said two men in a white van took the money from him at  knifepoint on Pedro Gil.

He later admitted to his employers that he hatched the plan with  Police Officer 1 Reggie Dominguez, 33, and Jason Paliza who are both at large. Erika Sauler