Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 19) — The Court of Appeals (CA) upholds the money laundering conviction of former bank manager Maia Santos-Deguito over the $81-million Bangladesh bank heist in 2016.
In a 58-page decision released on Wednesday, the CA denied Deguito’s appeal to reverse her conviction for eight counts of violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
The former Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) employee argued the Makati trial court that convicted her erred in its understanding of money laundering offense, and that her supposed prior knowledge about the illegality of the transactions was “merely presumed.”
But the appellate court ruled that elements of money laundering is present in Deguito’s case — particularly the knowledge that any monetary instrument or property represents, involves, or relates to the proceeds of any unlawful activity; transaction of said money; and movement or utilization of said money.
It further stressed that Deguito — who was the business manager of RCBC Jupiter Makati — was “not just a mere employee,” and that her opening of the accounts had “set the wheels in motion.
“In light of the above conclusions, there is no doubt that the prosecution was able to prove that Deguito is guilty of eight (8) counts of violation of Section 4 (f) of R.A. No. 9160, as amended. Thus, the Court finds no need to further discuss the other issues raised by the parties,” the CA said in its decision promulgated on Feb. 23.
In January 2019, Deguito was sentenced to four to seven years imprisonment for each count of money laundering, and was fined $109 million.
The RCBC branch where she worked allegedly processed a total of $101 million stolen by Chinese hackers from the Bangladesh government through the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Of which, $21 million went to Sri Lankan accounts while the rest ended up in the country.
The $81 million was later withdrawn and converted to pesos, then gambled in local casinos before authorities could track it.
