DOJ junks raps vs 'diamond queen'

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) junked criminal charges filed by the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) against a British businesswoman dubbed the “diamond queen” for allegedly smuggling millions of pesos’ worth of jewelry and tax evasion last year.

In a 16-page resolution, the DOJ panel of fiscals cleared Siu Ting Alpha Kwok, alias “Kwok Siu Ting,” of charges of violation of Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines and National Internal Revenue Code due to lack of evidence.

After preliminary investigation, the panel led by Senior State prosecutors Pamela Lazatin–Escobar did not give weight to the PASG’s allegations since the agency did not submit an inventory and valuation of the seized pieces of jewelry and precious stones.

The fiscals said they found the charges against Kwok could be concocted and the PASG supposedly had an ill motive and acted in bad faith when its agents raided Kwok’s condominium in Pasig City.

“While probable cause need not be based on clear and convincing evidence of guilt, there must be at least independent evidence to establish the existence of facts and circumstances as would excited, in a reasonable mind, that the person charged was guilty of the crime. In the instant case, the independent evidence relative to the illegal importation is absent,” they explained.

The PASG alleged it caught Kwok last year in possession of P250 million worth of assorted jewelries without the corresponding certificate of tax payment from the Bureau of Customs.

Records showed that Kwok, who was then using the name Kwok Siu Ting, was apprehended at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport while disembarking from Cathay Pacific Airways flight from Hong Kong on March 8, 1997, more than 12 years ago.

The seized precious stones and other pieces of jewelry were turned over to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for safekeeping.