Car dealer charged for sale of stolen car

CEBU, Philippines - For allegedly selling a stolen Nissan X-trail to a businesswoman in Cebu City, a car dealer has been charged for violation of the anti-fencing law before the Regional Trial Court yesterday.

Julie Ann Jimenez of Vanz Auto Square was charged after she was accused of selling a stolen vehicle to couple Maritess and William Cunningham.

Last January 8, elements of the Philippine National Police Regional Highway Patrol Group-7 spotted and flagged down the said Nissan X-trail owned by Bernadette Go. The said vehicle was allegedly stolen.

The team asked for the pertinent documents from the driver later identified as William Cunningham of Guindulman, Bohol, who presented copies registered under the name of Go. The said car was sold to them by the latter on June 14, 2007.

The said vehicle also had an acknowledgement receipt from Julie Ann Jimenez of Vanz Auto Square, who sold the said vehicle to Go on June 6, 2007.  However, they noticed inconsistencies in the entries of the documents presented.

A verification of the vehicle was made and it was found out that it is included in the list of wanted/stolen motor vehicle owned by a Chinese businessman in Manila.

During the interview by the RHPG-7, the Cunninghams admitted that the said vehicle was sold to them by Jimenez of Vanz Auto Square and presented copies of the open deed of sale.

The vehicle was sold to them at P600,000 where Jimenez used fake LTO permits and a false deed of sale under the name of Bernadette Go.

RHPG-7 first filed charges against the Cunninghams, Go and Jimenez but because there was no evidence on hand that the respondents stole the vehicle, the filing of the case was focused on Jimenez who allegedly duped the couple by using fake documents. — Jasmin R. Uy/BRP (THE FREEMAN)