P17-M car owned by Amalilio seized

Manuel Amalilio. Contributed photo

MANILA, Philippines—The National Bureau of Investigation seized a luxury sports car worth P17 million owned by Aman Futures founder Manuel Amalilio.

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said Friday a two-seater Lamborghini imported from Italy was found parked at a leased space at the BSA Twin Tower Condotel in Mandaluyong City.

Records obtained by the NBI showed that the vehicle was worth P17.1 million and was paid in cash by Amalilio, the man behind a P12-billion Ponzi scam.

“It is a 2012 model. This is new. This will be referred to the panel holding the Aman case and they will seek the court’s permission to open and examine the case,” De Lima said.

The vehicle, a Lamborghini Gallardo 560 Coupe Regolare, was imported from Italy based on import entry number C 23754.  A certain Shaffic Risaib Shah allegedly leased for a month the parking space at the condominium.

De Lima said she wants further investigation on the importation of the vehicle and other sales made by the distributor.

“This should be classified as suspicious transaction,” she said.

Amalilio is currently detained in Malaysia where he is serving a two-year sentence for violating passport laws.

Manila has been in talks with Kuala Lumpur to extradite Amalilio, who has a pending syndicated estafa case before the Iligan City Regional Trial Court for duping 15,000 people in the Visayas and Mindanao in a P12-billion investment scam.