Ombudsman: Money laundering probe on Nani Perez finished before year ends

The investigation on allegations that former justice secretary Hernando Perez was engaged in money laundering would be resolved before the year ends, according to Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

Gutierrez told reporters over the weekend the Office of the Ombudsman’s Preliminary Adjudication and Monitoring Office had already submitted to her the case for decision and resolution.

"By the year ends, that should have been resolved," she said.

On Saturday, former solicitor general Francisco Chavez urged the anti-graft agency to investigate the alleged money laundering activities of Perez through a bank in Geneva, Switzerland.

Perez was linked to money laundering on March 5, 2001, when an account was opened with the EFG Bank SA, Geneva Branch, in the name of Rosario S. Perez and Ramon C. Arceo Jr., both Filipino citizens under account No. 338118.

On March 6, 2001, reports said $1 million was deposited in that bank account, the money coming from the account of Ernest Escaler at the Coutts (Schweiz) AG Hong Kong.

On March 27, 2001, another account, No. 33128, was opened in EFG Bank SA, this time in the name of Ernest Escaler.

Perez and Arceo allegedly executed a power of attorney in favor of Hernando B. Perez, Rosario’s husband.

The account was closed on Oct. 31, 2001.

The account of Rosario, Perez and Arceo was credited in May 2001 with $699,985 from different investments.

Two important transfers took place from its last account in favor of a company named Swordtail Limited, the holder of an account in Hong Kong.

Reports said the account was first opened in Coutts Bank in Hong Kong, transferred to another bank in Singapore, then to the EFG bank in Geneva.