The Philippines Department of Justice (DOJ) has taken over the investigation of estafa cases filed by Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment, Inc. (TRLEI) against former boss Kazuo Okada following accusations of bias levelled at the Parañaque City Prosecutor’s Office.
The DOJ has also asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the leaking of documents after the findings of the prosecutor’s office were posted online via the social media accounts of Okada’s girlfriend before they were officially released. TRLEI – the subsidiary of Universal Entertainment Corp that operates Okada Manila – had asked the DOJ earlier this week to take over the cases and to investigate Parañaque City Prosecutor Amerhassan Paudac, who is believed to have leaked the documents.
“We have requested the NBI to investigate the leak. I understand that Prosecutor Paudac has inhibited himself so DOJ will handle any further motions or incidents in the Okada cases,” Justice Secretary Amenardo Guevarra told local reporters.
Okada was kicked off the board of both Universal and TRLEI last year amid accusations that he had embezzled more than US$10 million of the company’s money. TRLEI subsequently sued Okada before the Parañaque City Prosecutor’s Office as well as filing separate estafa complaints to both the Parañaque City Prosecutor’s Office and the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office.
Both estafa cases were dismissed last week, including the Parañaque City complaint relating to the alleged award of a major supply contract at Okada Manila by Okada to one of his own companies, Aruze Philippines Manufacturing Inc.
However, the findings of the Parañaque City office have since created a controversy of their own after they first appeared on the social media accounts of Chloe Kim, who is said to be Okada’s girlfriend. TRLEI filed approached the Office of the Prosecutor asking for a copy of the resolution, only to be told it was unavailable.
After approaching the Office of the Prosecutor for a copy of the resolution only to be told it was unavailable, TRLEI last week filed an 11-page motion calling for Paudac to recuse himself from the case. Ironically, Paudac had already announced an internal investigation into the leak despite refusing to deny that he had been the source.
“The formation of an investigating panel when he himself would be investigated is improper, self-serving and unjustified, and would only preempt the investigation that should be conducted by the DOJ,” TRLEI said.
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