Wednesday, August 27, 2008 9 cases filed vs. dealer, drivers
NINE cases have been filed against a car dealer and his four drivers for the questionable cars seized last July 31 in Mandaue City.
Named respondents in the case filed by the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) 7 are Reynold de la Torre, owner of Vanz Autosquare in Fuente Osmeña; and drivers Joven Castolo, Ian Gostelo, Richie Borces and Angelito Castolo.
They are all accused of violating provisions of the Anti-Carnapping Act or Republic Act (RA) 6539 (five counts), illegal transfer of plates or RA 4136 (three counts); and the Anti-Fencing Act of 1979.
Police, however, said they have no proof that the suspects were the ones who actually stole the vehicles.
Prosecutors have given the suspects 10 days to file their counter-affidavits.
The charges stemmed from the recovery of six luxury vehicles, five of which having questionable registration numbers, parked in a vacant lot in Mandaue City. The vehicles have since been impounded.
Tampered numbers
The HPG 7 learned that five vehicles have tampered engine and chassis numbers. Only one (a red Toyota with plate number YC2-842) has an untouched serial number and has regular records with the HPG and the Land Transportation Office.
The PNP Crime Laboratory 7 had to restore the original serial numbers and verify with the Vehicle Information Management System (Vims) the status of the five vehicles, whose engine and chassis numbers have been tampered with.
The five men were also sued for illegal transfer of plates after the HPG learned that three of the four cars had plate numbers registered to other vehicles. (OCP)
