NBI presents to media three foreign nationals who were arrested for allegedly selling fake dollars. CONTROBUTED PHOTO
THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested three foreign nationals allegedly engaged in selling fake US dollars in Makati City.
NBI’s National Capital Region Division agents identified the suspects as John Polonius alias Steve Wilmot Brown, G. Roland Clinton alias Steve Fraser and Shun A. Cooper. The three failed to present their passports and other travel documents but told authorities they are Liberian nationals.
NBI-NCR Chief Ric Diaz said the case stemmed from a complaint of Vijay Gurung, an Indian national businessman, who complained that he was scammed by certain foreign nationals who introduced themselves as Sudanese soldiers.
The suspects managed to convince Gurung that they were in possession of stained US dollars which can only be cleaned by chemical dye and they need money to buy the said chemical.
Enticed by the promise that they will invest in his restaurant business, Gurung agreed to give them P140,000.
The suspects again asked US$10,000 and P1 million. Suspicious, he went to the NBI and sought for help.
Acting on the complaint, NBI agents launched an entrapment operation at Fraser Place Hotel, Valero, Makati City last Monday afternoon, resulting in the arrest of the suspects.
The NBI is conducting a thorough investigation to determine if the suspects are part of a syndicate operating in the country.
The trio already underwent inquest proceedings for estafa, attempted estafa through falsification and violation of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Circular.
NBI spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin said he is calling the attention of all possible victims to come out so additional charges can be filed against the suspects who are currently detained at the bureau’s detention facility pending their turnover to the Bureau of Immigration.