Alleged dealer of "carnapped" cars indicted for estafa

CEBU, Philippines - A well-known dealer of suspected carnapped vehicles was indicted for estafa before the Regional Trial Court after an air-conditioning company complained that two of the three vehicles they bought from the accused were found to be stolen.

The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office filed the case in court against Reynold dela Torre, who used to operate the Vanz Auto Square in Fuente Osmeña Rotunda, and was ordered to pay P60,000 bail for his temporary liberty.

Dela Torre was indicted based on the complaint for estafa filed by David Tan, deputy manager of Hitachi Air Conditioning Products, Inc. Philippines-Cebu branch.

Tan said that on December 5, 2006 their company purchased three slightly used vehicles from dela Torre for a total of P1,450,000. These include a Mitsubishi Adventure worth P500,000; Toyota Altis Sedan and Toyota Vios at P490,000 each.

It was dela Torre who processed the transfer of the certificates of registration for the three vehicles. Subsequently the CR for the Mitsubishi Adventure was issued by the Land Transportation Office in Mandaue City while the LTO-Toledo City issued the CRs for the two Toyota Sedans.

The complainant said that on January 14, 2009 the Mitsubishi Adventure was apprehended by the Highway Patrol Group and was subsequently impounded on the ground that the vehicle was carnapped.

A week after the Toyota Altis was also apprehended and impounded on the same ground.

Tan said they immediately demanded from dela Torre the return of their payment. But the accused failed to reimburse him.

Aside from Tan, there were other victims who previously filed similar complaints against dela Torre. Some of these cases are already on trial.

Dela Torre was earlier tagged by the police as dealer of carnapped vehicles. In fact, his display center was closed down following several raids conducted by the police. — Fred P. Languido/WAB (THE FREEMAN)