QC court dismisses case vs Australian businessman

MANILA, Philippines – The Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QCRTC) has dismissed a criminal case against an Australian businessman and three others regarding a corporate dispute involving a mining firm.

In an order made public Wednesday, the QCRTC Branch 226 dismissed the case for the falsification of public documents against Jeffrey McGlinn, his local partner Joseph P. Mahusa, Ramon S. Austria, and Atty. Rosalinda Montenegro.

The case involves the alleged questionable assignment of shares of Medusa Exploration and Development Corporation, now Philsaga Management and Holdings Inc. (PMHI), and its affiliate companies.

“A careful evaluation of the entire records of the cases will show that none of the witnesses for the prosecution have personally seen any of the accused to have committed the crime of falsification charged against them. Thus, they could not point to any specific detail as to the degree of participation of the said accused,” the court said.

“As correctly pointed to by all the accused, the evidence presented by the prosecution is insufficient to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Hence their acquittal,” the court added.