A federal grand jury in the United States has indicted former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Andres Bautista and three officials of vote counting machine provider Smartmatic for alleged bribery and money laundering in relation to the 2016 elections in the Philippines.
Bautista was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and three counts of international laundering of monetary instruments, according to a press statement from the US Justice Department.
Also indicted were Roger Alejandro Piñate Martinez, Jorge Miguel Vasquez and Elie Moreno, described as “three executives of an election voting machine and service provider company.”
Smartmatic was not specifically identified by the US Justice Department, but a cursory search of the company’s website and previous reports confirm the accused’s links to the election technology provider.
Piñate, currently listed as director of the Smartmatic Global Board, was a company co-founder and served as its president.
Vasquez was vice president for external operations, while Moreno – who was also general manager of Smartmatic Philippines – was vice president of the company’s global services unit.
According to the US Justice Department, Piñate and Vasquez “allegedly caused at least $1 million in bribes” to be paid to Bautista.
“These bribes were allegedly paid to obtain and retain business related to providing voting machines and election services for the 2016 Philippine elections and to secure payments on the contracts, including the release of value added tax payments,” read the press release.
They allegedly funded the bribes through a slush fund created by over-invoicing the cost of voting machines used in the 2016 elections in the Philippines.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 10, 2024-Ausgabe von The Philippine Star.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 10, 2024-Ausgabe von The Philippine Star.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Sara moves to terminate fund misuse probe
Vice President Sara Duterte appeared at yesterday’s hearing of the House committee on good government and public accountability, but refused to take her oath and requested the committee to terminate the hearing on the past expenditures of her office.
Marcos: Cough, cold won't slow me down
President Marcos has a cough and cold, but assured the public that his situation would not slow him down.
Monsoon, Ferdie, Gener leave 20 dead, 14 missing
Twenty people were killed while 14 others remain missing due to the combined effects of the enhanced southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Ferdie and Gener, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said yesterday.
Former PS-DBM exec in Pharmally mess nabbed
NO SP TREAT Un the re person Pre Sara D refu take he duri hea the com ΟΙ gover and accoun The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is looking at filing a resolution with the United Nations General Assembly or UNGA to address the escalating tension in the West Philippine Sea due to China's continuous aggression.
Qualified trafficking raps filed vs Alice Guo
The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed on Tuesday before a Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) a qualified human trafficking case against dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo over her alleged involvement in the Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub raided in her municipality.
PNP: Harry Roque still in Phl
Harry Roque is still in the country, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday, as the manhunt for the former presidential spokesman intensified following an arrest order issued by the quad committee of the House of Representatives.
Comelec expects last-minute surge in voter registration
As the end of the voters’ registration nears on Sept. 30, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) sees a surge in the number of aspiring voters filing their applications.
Marbil: 24 ex-PNP chiefs probed over Guo ties
An investigation is underway on 24 former chiefs of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to find out who may have aided dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo escape.
Outstanding public servants cited
President Marcos yesterday awarded outstanding public servants.
Sara wishes Willie Ong 'speedy, complete' recovery
Setting aside past political differences, Vice President Sara Duterte has wished health advocate and cardiologist Willie Ong \"a speedy and complete recovery.