Indonesian trader faces syndicated estafa raps

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered the filing of criminal charges against an Indonesian businessman and five others.

In a 21-page resolution approved by acting Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon, the DOJ found probable cause to indict Shadik Wahono for syndicated estafa along with Dodik Marseno, Catur Utomo, Sahra Mayor, Alvin Bugtas and Joel Rayos.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed against the respondents by San Miguel Holdings Corp. (SMHC).

The SMHC alleged that Wahono misrepresented his company, PT Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada (CLGP), as the legal owner of Citra Central Expressway Corp. (CCEC) whose shares were acquired by the SMHC.

According to the SMHC, CLGP could not be the owner of CCEC since the subscription price was actually paid for by Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp. (CMMTC).

The SMHC, through its legal counsel, also revealed the unauthorized disbursement of CMMTC funds worth millions of pesos allegedly by Wahono when he was a shareholder at the time.

It was supposedly used by Wahono to incorporate the CCEC.

The complaint further alleged that Wahono entered into a separate partnership with the SMHC to undertake the Skyway’s Stage 3 project.

The DOJ gave weight to the complainant’s allegations that the respondents defrauded the CCEC, resulting in the misappropriation of funds contributed by the SMHC to CCEC.