Computer hacking suspect indicted for syndicated estafa

CEBU, Philippines - One of the nine people accused of hacking the computer programs of a money transfer establishment and amassed huge amount of money was indicted yesterday for syndicated stafa before the Regional Trial Court.

Cebu City prosecutor Nicolas Sellon has found probable cause to indict Mark Tapere Siarot of the crime and recommended a P20,000 bail for his temporary liberty.

Sellon approved the filing of a criminal suit against Siarot and eight other people for syndicated estafa and violation of Republic Act 8792, or the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000.

Siarot, Joevan Estremera, Ryan Lagbo, Juliet Bucles, Arlie Mabalatan, Belmar Anthony Berongan, Charlton Ibonia, Runil Abella and Sofia Cortes were charged after they allegedly hacked the computer programs of a branch of H.L Western Union Money Transfer in Fuente Osmeña and amassed P150,000 in August 2008.

Siarot, a technical staff, and Estremera and Lagbo, the computer programmer and another employee of Western Union, allegedly downloaded the Team Viewer, a free remote access computer program that would provide a medium to control the company’s computers through the Internet, including all the remittances and money transferred to the establishment.

They allegedly made it appear that a certain Nancy Ong had transferred about P150,000 to Ibonia. But Ong was just a fictitious person.

Posing as payee, Ibonia then went to a Western Union outlet at the Robinson’s Place and claimed the amount. – Jasmin R. Uy/LPM   (FREEMAN NEWS)