Prosecutor general inhibits from Okada estafa complaints

MANILA, Philippines – Acting Prosecutor General Jorge Catalan Jr is inhibiting himself from the estafa complaints against Japanese tycoon Kazuo Okada, who is involved in a legal battle with his former company, Tiger Resort Leisure & Entertainment Incorporated.

Catalan told Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra in a letter on Friday, June 8, that he has decided to grant Tiger Resort’s motion seeking his inhibition.

“In view of the said motion for our inhibition, we are refraining from taking any action on these cases, much less to recommend the designation of a prosecutor as acting city prosecutor of Parañaque City,” Catalan said.

Tiger Resort, which owns and operates Okada Manila, had filed estafa and perjury complaints against its former chairman Okada as well as former president and chief operating officer Takahiro Usui.

Tiger Resort, in its motion for inhibition, noted that Catalan had approved the dismissal of its perjury complaint against Okada and Usui in Makati City last March.

Catalan, the company said, should therefore not handle the estafa complaints filed in Parañaque City, or even assign prosecutors to handle them.

The acting prosecutor general said he is now leaving it up to Guevarra to designate who would continue the preliminary probe into the estafa complaints.

Earlier, Tiger Resort also sought the inhibition of Parañaque City Prosecutor Amerhassan Paudac, claiming he was biased and was behind the supposed leak of an alleged resolution. Guevarra said he would look into the matter. – Rappler.com