Rasuman insists on innocence

MANILA, Philippines - For the first time, Jachob “Coco” Rasuman appeared yesterday before the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila to insist on his innocence on charges involving the multi-million investment scam allegedly perpetrated by his car trading firm.

Under heavy security of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Rasuman faced the special DOJ panel and submitted counter-affidavits to new sets of complaints filed by investors from Cagayan de Oro,

Iligan, and Marawi cities duped by the Ponzi-type scheme.

His lawyer Anthony Marvic Ponce de Leon told reporters that Rasuman has again denied the charges of syndicated estafa as in three earlier complaints that the DOJ had already investigated and filed in court.

“There are allegations that some of the complainants personally gave their investments to him, but my client had not met them. That’s why the defense is more on the legality of the case filed. If ever it will be found that he committed a crime, it’s not syndicated estafa,” he said.

Ponce de Leon explained that his client had a legitimate business in Nad 21 Auto Option Corp.

“It’s a sole proprietorship. It cannot be a Ponzi scheme because that happens when they get investments from people without any legitimate business,” he claimed.

Upon submission of Rasuman’s counter-affidavit, the DOJ panel submitted the new complaints for resolution.

Earlier, the DOJ had filed three cases in Cagayan de Oro Regional Trial Court (RTC) against Rasuman and his alleged cohorts in the scam.

Also charged in court were Rasuman’s wife Princess, his father and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary

Basher Sr., mother Ema, brothers Basher Jr., Jeremiah and Jerome, and father-in-law Sultan Yahya Jerry Tomawis.

Rasuman was arrested in Marawi City in November after the DOJ filed with

the Cagayan de Oro RTC the initial case for syndicated estafa, a non-bailable offense, against him and the other accused involving 25 complainants who were claiming some P120 million in investments and returns.

The two other cases were filed by investors Achmad Sangcaan and Naim Sampao, who claimed P15 million and P26.51 million in respective investment and returns, last January.

The other accused, however, remain at large.

Ponce de Leon confirmed that he also represents other relatives of Rasuman who stand as respondents in the case and are being hunted by authorities on arrest warrants issued by the court over earlier cases filed by the DOJ.

But he said he was not aware of their whereabouts.