Alice Guo was among the owners of a property that hosted online casino entities raided for carrying out internet scams and alleged human trafficking. - Photo: Senate of The Philippines
MANILA: Philippine prosecutors are seeking money laundering charges against a former town mayor over her alleged involvement in an online casino project.
Prosecutors have recommended the filing of 62 counts of money laundering against former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, according to a copy of a resolution from the Department of Justice released Wednesday (Jan 15).
Guo was among the owners of a property that hosted online casino entities raided for carrying out internet scams and alleged human trafficking.
Separate charges are also being sought for 30 other individuals, including Guo’s associates, Zhang Ruijin and Lin Baoying, who were convicted in Singapore’s largest money laundering case.
Guo’s involvement in the scheme "cannot be overemphasised,” according to the resolution.
"She appears to be its brainchild and/or architect,” it added.
Guo’s legal counsel, Nicole Jamilla, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
She said in November that Guo was ready to belie "baseless” money laundering and human trafficking allegations.
The former mayor earlier pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of human trafficking.
Those named in the resolution including Guo "profited” from investment scams carried out in the Baofu online casino compound in Bamban, north of the capital, Justice Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano told reporters.
"That’s how they made money and they used that money to buy many assets,” he said, adding prosecutors are expected to file charges in court soon.
The National Bureau of Investigation, the Anti-Money Laundering Council, and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission in August filed complaints against Guo along with other individuals "alleged to have been involved in a complex scheme of money laundering linked to the crimes of estafa, qualified trafficking in person.”
The council also sought to forfeit assets valued at over 6 billion pesos (US$102 million) that it said were "accumulated by Guo and her associates through their unlawful activities.” - Bloomberg
