Ex-RCBC manager linked to Bangladesh bank heist arrested for perjury

MANILA, Philippines – Maia Santos Deguito, the former manager of a branch of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) who was linked to alleged money laundering operations, was arrested Wednesday, August 17, for perjury.

An ABS-CBN report said Deguito was arrested in a supermarket in Makati City. The arrest warrant was issued on August 10 by Judge Eduardo Cruz Solangon Jr of the Pasay Regional Trial Court Branch 46. 

Deguito’s legal counsel said the complainant was not identified in the arrest warrant, and that his client did not undergo a preliminary investigation which would have been the basis for an arrest. 

Back in April, Lorenzo Tan, the president-on-leave of the RCBC, filed civil and criminal charges against Deguito, who claimed Tan was the brains behind the laundering of $81 million that a syndicate stole online from Bangladesh central bank.

Deguito, who calls herself a “scapegoat” in the case, is also facing money laundering charges. She will post bail of P6,000 for the perjury case. – Rappler.com