6 other bank officials not yet off hook — Bangladesh envoy

MANILA, Philippines — Six other officials of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) are allegedly not yet off the hook a few days after former bank manager Maia Deguito was convicted of money laundering in one of the biggest cyber-heists in history involving $81 million belonging to the Bangladesh government.

Bangladesh Ambassador Asad Alam Siam said the Department of Justice (DOJ) is handling the charges filed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) against the RCBC officials. 

Siam added that they hoped that the DOJ would expedite the process. 

“We have kept all options open,” Siam said, responding to questions on the Bangladesh government’s reported plan to also file a lawsuit in New York against the RCBC executives.

On Nov. 18, 2016, the AMLC filed complaints before the DOJ against former RCBC treasurer Raul Victor Tan, national sales director for retail banking Ismael Reyes, regional sales director for retail banking Brigitte Capiña, direct sales director Nestor Pineda, customer service head for Jupiter business center Romualdo Agarrado and senior customer relations officer for Jupiter business center Angela Ruth Torres.

RCBC legal and regulatory affairs head Maria Cecilia Estavillo was quoted to have said that Tan resigned in April 2016 “out of decency and honor.”

Torres was reportedly dismissed after she – along with Deguito – was found by RCBC to have been involved in the money laundering scheme.

Meanwhile, Deguito’s lawyer Demetrio Custodio said they will file a motion for reconsideration. Custodio added that he remained optimistic that Deguito’s name would be cleared. 

The court was convinced that Deguito did not only facilitate the illegal bank transactions but also “coordinated and corroborated” their execution and implementation.