Philippines Department of Justice to investigate Kazuo Okada

The Philippines Department of Justice has reportedly initiated an inquiry into the fraud and perjury accusations levied at Kazuo Okada (pictured) by casino operator, Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment Incorporated after local prosecutors dropped similar investigations into the billionaire Japanese businessman late last month.

According to a report from Inside Asian Gaming, the Philippines Department of Justice has also invited the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate how the May decision from officials in Paranaque City not to prosecute the 75-year-old came to be posted on the social media accounts of his alleged girlfriend, Chloe Kim, in advance of being officially released.

“We have requested the National Bureau of Investigation investigate the leak,” Philippines Justice Secretary, Menardo Guevarra, reportedly told Inside Asian Gaming. “I understand that [Paranaque City] Prosecutor [Amerhassan] Paudac has recused himself so the Philippines Department of Justice will handle any further motions or incidents in the Okada cases.”

Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment Incorporated is a subsidiary of Japanese pachinko, slot and arcade games manufacturer, Universal Entertainment Corporation, and had reportedly invited the Philippines Department of Justice to take up its complaint against Okada after last month saw prosecutors in Paranaque City and Makati City decide not to pursue its previously-filed fraud and perjury actions. The Manila-headquartered firm furthermore purportedly asked that the nation’s highest law enforcement agency investigate Paudac, who it alleges was responsible for leaking his office’s decision.

“The formation of an investigating panel when he himself would be investigated is improper, self-serving and unjustified and would only preempt the investigation that should be conducted by the Department of Justice,” read the eleven-page request from Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment Incorporated, which operates the giant Okada Manila integrated casino resort in the nation’s Entertainment City district.

Okada once served as Chairman for both Tokyo-based Universal Entertainment Corporation and its Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment Incorporated subordinate, but was reportedly removed a year ago amid allegations that he had been involved in the illegal transfer of around $20 million in company cash to ‘third parties’ without first going through the ‘proper internal decision-making process.’ The entrepreneur’s former colleagues had moreover accused him of improperly awarding a major machine supply contract to Aruze Philippines Manufacturing Incorporated, which is a subsidiary of his own Aruze Gaming America Incorporated concern.