Trader mulls libel suit against retailer of cellphones, cards

The businesswoman, accused of defrauding a company engaged in wholesale and retail business of cellular phones and prepaid cards, plans to file a libel suit against the firm's officials for filing a complaint against her at the National Bureau of Investigation.

Delia Simon, through her lawyer Inosencio de la Serna, denied defrauding the Integrated Distribution Network Incorporated as alleged.

De la Serna said, his client never ran away from her obligations, as alleged by Dianeta Eboran and Ronaldo Chua, the firm's finance and distribution managers, respectively.

It is not true that Simon issued personal checks to the firm as payment of her purchases, said De la Serna, adding that what was issued was a corporate check, which means that such should be a liability of her corporation and not her alone.

De la Serna admitted though that Simon made a business transaction with the firm but then she merely acted on behalf of Teletec Corporation, which she claimed is owned by Simon's husband.

The filing of the complaint, by INDI officials, against Simon was very malicious and meant to embarrass her good reputation, said the lawyer.

Copies of the four checks, amounting to P2 million, issued by Simon to INDI however belied De la Serna's claim that the checks were not personal checks of Simon.

The FREEMAN learned further that some other alleged victims of Simon are also planning to file charges against her.

INDI officials, who operate Audionet, went to NBI last Friday to ask the agency's assistance in the filing of estafa and violation of the anti-bouncing check law against Simon.

They alleged that Simon bought last September 28 from the firm 4000 pieces of Globe P300-prepaid cards, 6700 pieces of Globe P100-cards, and 1000 Touch Mobile prepaid cards-all worth a total of P1.9 million.

They said that, instead of paying cash for the purchase, Simon allegedly issued a personal check to cover the amount.

The INDI officials said they refused the checks but Simon convinced them by issuing checks, amounting to P2 million, with the promise that these would be "in-cleared" the following day and not the usual process of 3-day clearing period.

INDI officials later found out however that the account has no funds. They alleged that they gave enough time for Simon to deposit the money but the latter ignored their demands. -Fred P. Languido/RAE