Wife of alleged investment scam mastermind falls

MANILA, Philippines - The wife of the suspected leader of a gang running an investment scam was arrested in Commonwealth, Quezon City Wednesday night, officials said yesterday.

Princess Tomawis Rasuman was cornered at a house she recently rented in Vista Real Executive Village following four months of surveillance, Pasay City police chief Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Llorca said.

Pasay police officers, in coordination with the Quezon City police, served Rasuman an arrest warrant for syndicated estafa issued by a Cagayan de Oro City court.

Llorca, a former provincial police commander of Lanao del Sur, said he has been following the developments in the Rasuman case.

Rasuman’s husband, Jachob, was arrested in November last year for allegedly duping a total of P120 million from those who invested in his car trading firm. Jachob allegedly promised returns of 50 percent to 100 percent.

One of the complainants, Jonhary Diampuan, rushed to the Pasay City police station upon learning of Rasuman’s arrest.

Several of the couple’s relatives have been charged with syndicated estafa in connection with the Ponzi-type scheme.