The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is stepping up its efforts to locate Cagayon de Oro investment scam ringleader Jachob Rasuman’s co-accused, some of whom are reportedly in Metro Manila.
The intensified operations came following the arrest of Rasuman’s wife, Princess Tomawis Rasuman, in Quezon City Wednesday night.
“I directed NBI Director Nonnatus Rojas to intensify the manhunt for the other co-acuused of Coco Rasuman kasi wala pa sila. Hindi pa sila nahuhuli,” De Lima told reporters.
“Ang balita namin, mukhang dito lang sila (sa Metro Manila) kaya pinapa-intensify ko na iyong manhunt para makuha sila para kumpleto na sila,” said De Lima, insisting that all of the suspects should get arraigned soon.
In a counter-affidavit he submitted to the special panel of prosecutors last March, Rasuman asked the DOJ to dismiss the case against him as he denied that he duped supposed investor-complainants, who he said he has never even met before.
Rasuman’s camp insisted that syndicated estafa charges should never have been filed, adding that if ever there was a crime, “it’s simple estafa.”
Rasuman’s camp also belied accusations he was engaged in a Ponzi scheme, which entices investors to put money in the company in exchange for huge returns in two months.
According to Investopedia, a Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investing scam promising high rates of return with little risk to investors. The Ponzi scheme generates returns for older investors by acquiring new investors.
Mr. Rasuman claimed he is operating a legitimate business of car trading called NAD Auto Opinion Corporation.
Rasuman was arrested by authorities in November last year, following several charges of syndicated estafa.
One of the complainants in the cases, Akhmad Tangkaan, alleged that the Rasuman Group lured him into initially investing more than P5 million in 2011, with the promise of 50 percent to 100 percent interest in two months.
The complainant said the group also promised him a car if he would invest more money in the company.
Apart from the Rasuman couple, named respondents in one of the complaints were Bashir Rasuman Sr, Bashir Rasuman Jr, Emma Rasuman and Sultan Jerry Tomawis.
Another complaint, meanwhile, accused Rasuman and the others of divesting almost P15 million in investments.
