Collector faces two counts of qualified theft charges

CEBU, Philippines - A collector of an appliance store has been charged with two counts of qualified theft before the Regional Trial Court on Thursday for failing to remit more than P120,000 in collections of the company since 2006.

According to Satur Montebon, the collections head of the Mabuhay Appliance, collector Jover Tolo being in charged of the daily collections in the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue, and in Liloan town failed to remit the collections of the said firm.

Montebon, in his complaint, said that the company has entrusted its full trust and confidence to Tolo whose duty is to handle cash receipts and receive daily collections of customers.

But on October 26, 2006, a regular audit was made by the accounting department pertaining to the company’s cash flow and collections. The result of the audit revealed that Tolo did not remit the daily collections paid by the customers in the amount of P69,384.

During the investigation, Tolo admitted to have pocketed the daily collections. Despite the infractions, the company retained his services believing that he will not do the same after he promised to pay the amount misappropriated, subject to deductions from his salary.

But sometime in November 2007, the accounting department noticed that several customers were at least three months delayed in their monthly payments. An investigation was conducted and customer visits were made. It was found out that the customers regularly pay their dues.

During the cross-matching of the receipts, these revealed that the same invoice was issued to the same customers of different account numbers. It was also determined that for the same invoice and customer, there were different due dates, monthly dues, and different amounts.

The audit was again carried out and it was found out that Tolo again failed to remit the amount of P66,784.

Because of this, the said complaint against Tolo’s acts was filed. The charge was recently elevated to the RTC. — Jasmin R. Uy/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)