The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested a man who defrauded a Japanese businessman of $40,000 in a bogus business deal.
The NBI identified the suspect as Anselmo Monreal Nolasco who was arrested by operatives of the bureau’s Anti Graft Division (AGD) during an entrapment operation at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.
Nolasco’s companion, Maria Elvisa Daclan Tabar, remains at large.
The arrest stemmed from the complaint of Japanese businessman Musashi Nagashima who lost $40,000 to the two suspects.
Apart from the Nagashima, the NBI also received reports that the suspects also swindled an Australian senator using the same scheme.
Nagashima recounted that the suspects was introduced to him through his friend Bertito del Mundo Hasimoto in November 2016.
The Japanese said that the suspects claimed they own the Goshen Capital Holdings Limited which wants to fund the construction of the Davao Metro Link Train.
The two suspects also want to invite Japanese general contractors to implement the project and even showed a certification from a certain Bernadette Lim, HSBC assistant vice president for trade operations, indicating that Goshen has $5 billion deposited in HSBC.
However, the suspects claimed that Nagashima needs to pay $120,000 bank charges to facilitate the transfer of the money to his employer in Japan.
During a meeting in Hong Kong with Nagashima’s employer, the suspects agreed to make an initial transfer of $10 million to the Japanese employer to defray the mobilization and feasibility study of the project.
Because of this, Nagashima shelled out $40,000 while Hashimoto shared $20,000 for the $60,000.
The suspects later informed Nagashima that $10 million was transferred to his employer in Japan.
However, Nagashima sought the help the NBI after he confirmed with his employer that no money was transferred in Japan.