DOJ takes over estafa raps vs. Okada, taps NBI to probe reso ‘leakage’

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has taken jurisdiction over the estafa charges against Japanese gaming tycoon Kazuo Okada, after the supposed premature disclosure of resolutions in connection with the complaints.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Tuesday that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is "still investigating" the alleged leakage of resolutions showing the two estafa complaints had been dismissed.

"Meanwhile, DOJ will take over any further incidents in the subject cases," Guevarra told GMA News Online in a text message.

Complainant Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment, Inc. (TRLEI), the operator of posh hotel-resort complex Okada Manila, had asked the DOJ to assume jurisdiction over the cases after they tagged Parañaque City prosecutor Amerhassan Paudac in the resolution leakage.

Paudac voluntarily inhibited from the estafa cases five days after TRLEI sought his recusal, but "maintained" he had nothing to do with the prematurely released documents. He eventually formed a panel to investigate the supposed leak.

But TRLEI told the DOJ in a June 1 motion that the panel formation by Paudac himself was "improper, self-serving and unjustified," as his subordinates "would be unable to conduct an impartial investigation out of reverence for, or fear, of City Prosecutor Paudac."

The firm asked the DOJ to step in and restrain the investigation by Paudac's panel and suggested the department to conduct the probe itself.

Earlier, TRLEI wanted Paudac out of the cases after a certain Chloe Kim posted on her Facebook and Instagram pages the dispositive/signature portions of the resolutions, even before the documents were officially sent to the parties.

That Paudac has the final say on the resolutions means the documents could not have been leaked to Okada and Kim without his participation, TRLEI said.

Okada faces estafa and perjury charges filed by TRLEI, which he had briefly led as chief executive officer last year before being booted out by a majority of shareholders.

He is accused of embezzling more than $10 million of TRLEI funds between early 2016 and June 2017.

He has been placed under the Bureau of Immigration's lookout bulletin. — MDM, GMA News