Wong to return more laundered money

MANILA, Philippines - The camp of businessman Kim Wong pledged to continue cooperating with authorities in returning parts of the $81-million stolen from the central bank of Bangladesh and transferred to banks and casinos in the Philippines.

Toby Purisima, Wong’s lawyer, said his client “will continue to cooperate with all agencies, with all bodies, with the legal process as committed from the beginning.”

Wong, one of the personalities accused of money laundering, has returned amounts of $4.6 million, P38 million and P200 million. The funds allegedly came from casino junket agent Gao Shuhua.

The funds are currently with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for safekeeping.

Wong’s camp was supposed to file their comment to the petition for civil forfeiture of assets filed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) before the Manila Regional Trial Court branch 53.

The petition seeks to seize the funds in favor of the government.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said “after the funds are forfeited in favor of the Republic, any claimant can file a claim to get those funds.” The central bank of Bangladesh can eventually file its petition to claim the funds that Wong returned.