AFTER finding sufficient grounds of what appears to be one of the biggest money laundering schemes ever recorded in the country, the Court of Appeals (CA) approved the Anti-Money Laundering Council’s petition which sought concurrence freezing all assets of embattled Bamban Mayor Alice Guo.
In an ex parte petition filed on July 8, the AMLC cited Section 10 of Republic Act 9160 (Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001) as grounds to freeze Guo’s 90 bank accounts deposited in 14 financial institutions, real properties and personal assets connected to the suspected syndicate.
Aside from Guo, likewise frozen were assets of her associates Zhiyang Huang and Baoying Lin, both Chinese nationals who have earlier been indicted for a similar scheme in Singapore.
The AMLC, in a statement, said that there is sufficient proof that Guo, Huang, and Lin are orchestrating human trafficking and fraudulent activities through entities such as Zun Yuan Technology Inc., Baofu Land Development Inc., and Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc.
“The investigation uncovered significant financial transactions and assets amassed by these individuals, raising suspicions of their involvement in money laundering, human trafficking, and other illicit operations,” it said.
In the CA’s resolution, the freeze order covered 90 bank accounts across 14 financial institutions, massive real properties, luxury vehicles and a helicopter.
In a separate statement to Senate reporters, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian that 36 of the 90 bank accounts which were ordered frozen are under Guo’s name.
Guo came under fire following the congressional inquiry on Guo’s alleged ties to Zun Yuan Technology, the raided Pogo firm in Bamban, Tarlac, from where suspicion sparked that she may have been engaged in espionage too.
Guo has denied all accusations. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
