BB cyber heist: Wong returns another $4.34m

Casino junket operator Kim Wong has returned another P200 million ($4.34 million) to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), which was believed to be part of the alleged $81million stolen funds from Bangladesh's central bank.

AMLC Executive Director Julia Bacay-Abad confirmed during Tuesday's resumption of the hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee that Wong's company, Eastern Hawaii Leisure Co Ltd through its lawyers, turned over the money to their office “for safekeeping” on Monday.

“I understand Mr Kim Wong returned P200 million yesterday? Am I correct?” committee chair Senator Teofisto Guingona III asked.

“Yesterday, your honor, Eastern Hawaii Leisure Company through its lawyers turned over the amount of P200 million to the AMLC for safekeeping to be returned to the people of Bangladesh,” Abad said.

Guingona then asked Wong, who was also present in the hearing, whether it was part of the P450 million funds that he promised to return if proven that the money was part of the alleged stolen funds from Bangladesh.

“Yes, Sir. Because I have promised that within a month, I'll return P450 million,” Wong said.

Wong earlier told the committee that a total of P1 billion of the $81 million funds remitted to Rizal Commercial Banking Corp (RCBC) on Jupiter Street, Makati City branch, went to his company, P450 million of which, he said, was debt payment to him by junket operator Shuhua Gao.

He said the remaining P550 million was converted into chips and played in the casino, and only more than P40 million of the amount was left.

Copyright: Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network