DOJ taking over jurisdiction of cases against Okada

June 5, 2018

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is taking over jurisdiction of the $10 million estafa cases filed by the owner of casino resort and Hotel Okada Manila against Japanese businessman Kazuo Okada.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Tuesday he has also tasked the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the leak of  resolutions of Parañaque City Prosecutor Amerhassan Paudac on the cases to the social media accounts of Okada’s Korean friend, Chloe Kim, even before it was officially released to the parties.

“We have requested the NBI to investigate the leak. I understand that Prosecutor Paudac has inhibited himself. So DOJ will handle any further motions or incidents in the Okada cases,” Guevarra said in a text message to reporters.

Last June 1, Tiger Resorts Leisure & Entertainment Inc. asked the DOJ to investigate Paudac for violating the rules and procedures, and the Code of Conduct for Prosecutors in handling cases before his office.

Tiger Resorts has accused Paudac of bias and partiality for leaking copies of his resolutions dismissing the estafa cases against Okada, the dispositive portions of which landed in the social media accounts of Kim.

Tiger Resorts is the owner and operator of  Okada Manila at Entertainment City in Paranaque where Okada was its chief executive officer before he was expelled last year for embezzling more than $10 million in company funds. DMS