Indian businessman tagged in fatal hit-and-run

MANILA, Philippines - An Indian-Filipino businessman, who allegedly figured in a hit-and-run that killed a motorcycle driver, has until this morning to surrender before charges are filed against him, Makati City police chief Senior Superintendent Manuel Lukban said yesterday.

Sunglass Hut Philippines president Rajiv Dargani was identified by witnesses as the driver of an R8 Audi (JVV-88) that crashed into a motorcycle along McKinley Road at past 3 a.m. Saturday.

Unless he surrenders, he will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, physical injuries and abandonment of one’s victim, Lukban said.

The city police chief said Dargani was driving along McKinley Road on his way home to Dasmariñas Village from the direction of the Bonifacio Global City when he allegedly overtook another vehicle and then hit a motorcycle on the opposite lane.

Motorcycle driver Henrix Bernardo died on the spot while his passenger, Glenn Nacion Jr., was critically injured, Lukban said.

He added that after the accident, Dargani allegedly did not stop and instead drove to Dasmariñas Village. However, Dargani left the village and has not been seen since. Lukban said police officers went to Dargani’s residence but neither he nor his car was there.

According to Lukban, the relatives of Dargani’s victims told police that they are not pursuing the case and have executed an affidavit of desistance.

Lukban also added that a representative of Dargani requested that police not directly file the case as he will surrender this morning.

“If he would surrender, he will be taken into custody and his case will go through a preliminary investigation. But he fails to surrender, we will directly file the charges against him. He will still have to face the criminal aspect of the case even as he had cleared his civil liabilities,” he said.

Lukban added that should Dargani fail to present himself before the Makati police, they will ask that his name be placed on a hold departure order to prevent him from leaving the country.

The Bureau of Immigration said it cannot stop Dargani from leaving the country “in the absence of a hold departure order, watchlist order, blacklist or lookout bulletin” issued against him, BI spokesperson Antonette Mangrobang said yesterday. – With Evelyn Macairan