Kim Wong is back, vows to tell all during Senate hearing

MANILA — Midas Hotel junket casino operator Kim Wong is back in the country and is ready to tell all he knows about the $81-million money laundering at the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on March 29, according to a statement issued by his counsel Tuesday.

Lawyer Victor Fernandez said his client returned to the country last Sunday from Singapore. He is ready and willing to testify before the Senate, according to Fernandez.

As this developed, Fernandez questioned the timing of the filing before the Department of Justice (DoJ) of a money laundering complaint against his client by the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

“The timing of the case filing is suspicious, he said. “It is our impression that some very powerful people are afraid of what our client will disclose that’s why a premature case was filed against him by AMLC.”

The lawyer said authorities “probably think that filing the case will deter our client from coming home and testifying before the Senate. They are wrong.”

The counsel of the controversial casino junket operator said he was surprised that a criminal complaint was filed against his client based solely on the statement of RCBC bank manager Maia Santos Dequito before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

“The investigation is still ongoing yet the AMLC used the transcript of stenographic notes as their only basis for the complaint. Why is the AMLC in such a hurry?” he asked.  SFM