Wanted man falls inside the court

CEBU, Philippines - A computer expert accused of hacking several transactions of a company engaged in money transfer was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation inside the Palace of Justice following his arraignment yesterday.

Mark Siarot, former employee of Western Union, was arrested by the team of Supervising Agent Rennan Augustus Oliva outside the courtroom of Regional Trial Court Judge Estella Alma Singco where he attended an arraignment of his other case.

The NBI operatives served the warrant of arrest for estafa issued by RTC Judge Silvestre Maamo. Siarot was later released after posting bail for his temporary liberty. Siarot was accused by his former employer of allegedly hacking their system to pull off several fictitious transactions.

Siarot’s counsel, Rameses Villagonzalo, is confident that his client will be cleared of the charges that are now pending before four RTC branches.

“I am confident nga ma absolved ang akong client sa iyang kasong gipang atubang kay wa siya’y sala,” Villagonzalo told reporters.

“Ako sang I consolidate ang all cases ni Siarot nga naa sa branch 16, 17, og 5 ngadto sa branch 12 para ma usa nalang,” he added.

According to Villagonzalo, his client is innocent of the charges because he already resigned from Western Union in May 2008 before the cases were filed in July and August of the same year.  – THE FREEMAN