9 sued for selling fake gold bars

POLICE filed charges on Friday before the City Prosecution Office against nine men accused of selling fake gold bars worth P4 million on November 30, 2012.

Charged with estafa were certain Alex Sanggawa; Dodong Lagari; a certain Joel; Caloy or Loloy Campong; Kano Sikao; a certain Apa; Pastot Tito Arib and two John Does.

A source from the City Prosecution Office, who refused to be identified for lack of authority to speak, said the police filed the complaint even as the suspects are still at large.

Senior Inspector Ranulfo A. Cabañog, case tracker team leader of the Davao City Police Office's Investigation and Detection Management Branch (DCPO-IDMB), said they identified the accused based on their investigation conducted in Buda and Salumay in Marilog District on December 3.

Based on their investigation, the suspects were seen onboard a dark green Nissan Urban with a plate number KZG-129, backed up by a motorcycle with plate number 9142 YR before the illegal transaction involving the fake gold bars happened.

It can be recalled that on November 30, the complainant, Ray J. Wormall, 59, an Australian national, and his live-in partner, Fidela Caras, both residents of Marikina in Metro Manila, went to Marilog District for the said transaction.

The complainant handed the P4 million cash to one of the nine accused in exchange for the gold bars. When the complainant were about to check the bag, the accused excused themselves and immediately fled to unknown direction.

The police already launched a manhunt operation against the suspects, while the complainant is still waiting for the development of the case.