DOJ indicts gaming tycoon Kazuo Okada for estafa

The Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted Japanese billionaire Kazuo Okada for three counts of estafa related to the unauthorized payments he allegedly received from Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment, Inc. (TRLEI), the operator of the Okada Manila casino hotel-resort complex in Parañaque City.

DOJ reversed the resolution released by the Office of the City Prosecutor of Paranaque City that previously dismissed the estafa cases against the gaming tycoon.

Takahiro Usui, former president and chief operating officer of TRLEI was also charged for conspiracy in relation to the said three counts of estafa.

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Usui was accused of conspiring with Okada by facilitating the execution of the latter's engagement as chief executive officer and consultant of TRLEI without the authorization of the company's board of directors.

In a counter-affidavit that Okada previously filed, he said the payments made were neither misappropriated nor converted and were in fact due him.

Usui, on the other hand, said in his counter-affidavit the payments had legal basis, and that there was no agreement between him and Okada to commit the alleged estafa.

Prior to DOJ's recent decision, the Office of the City Prosecutor in Parañaque City previously dismissed the estafa complaints on May 11, 2018 on the ground that the controversy appears to be one of an intra-corporate nature.—Dona Magsino/ LDF, GMA New2