RCBC –Jupiter Branch Manager Maia Santos-Deguito takes an oath before testifying during a Senate hearing on the US$81 million money-laundering scandal, at the Philippines Senate on Tuesday. Deguito was summoned to shed light on the Philippines’ biggest anti-money laundering case involving money stolen from the central bank of Bangladesh.(MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – The government on Tuesday filed complaints against two individuals implicated in the $81-million money laundering controversy involving a branch of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC).
The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) filed the complaints against Kim Wong and Weikang Xu.
Weikang Xu, reportedly a junket operator, allegedly owned the bank accounts where the $81 million stolen from Bangladesh Bank through computer hacking ended up.
On the other hand, Kim Wong, a businessman, has been tagged as the mastermind in the money-laundering scheme. He has been described as a valued client of RCBC who is close with the bank’s president and CEO Lorenzo Tan.
Tan said he has not seen Wong in more than 10 years.
The $81 million was reportedly hacked and stolen from Bangladesh Bank’s account in New York and laundered in Philippine banks and casinos. (MNS)