Universal’s Okada is facing a new criminal complaint
A former employee of Universal Entertainment filed a criminal complaint against its founder, Japanese billionaire Kazuo Okada. In the complaint, Takafumi Nakano claims Okada directed him to pay bribes to develop an unfinished Manila Bay resort in the Philippines, Reuters reported.
On Wednesday, Reuters reported that he had seen a copy of the complaint filed with the Tokyo District Attorney’s Office. The complaint was filed in late May. Mr. Nakano made similar claims in an ongoing civil defamation lawsuit against his former employer.
The criminal complaint is the latest in a legal battle between Mr. Okada and three former employees over $40 million paid in 2010 to speed up the construction of a $2 billion casino resort in Manila’s Entertainment City.
The payment allegations were subject to separate investigations by the Philippine Justice Department, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and Nevada gaming regulators.
Universal accused the three former employees in a 2012 lawsuit of transferring some of the money without proper permission to a company known to be related to a politically connected consultant close to Eprime Zenuino. At the time, Zenuino was president of the Philippine Entertainment Gaming Company (Pagcor), the regulator and operator of Filipino casino games.
In his complaint, Mr. Nakano said Mr. Okada had instructed him to pay most of the money to consultant Rodolfo Soriano, who was close to Mr. Genuino, Reuters reported.
The complaint urges Japanese prosecutors to investigate and prosecute Okada in accordance with Japanese law for bribing foreign officials.
Reuters reported last month that a lawyer working for Universal offered Mr Nakano “a certain level of compensation” for withdrawing the bribery charges.
Meanwhile, a panel of outside experts convened by Universal to investigate the case said last month it was breaking up.
Okada may have to appear before members of the gaming and play committee of the Philippine House of Representatives, who expect to give a personal explanation for allegations that the Japanese tycoon set up a fake company to meet casino licensing requirements.
If U.S. and Philippine authorities determine there is evidence of wrongdoing, Okada and his companies could face charges of violating anti-bribery laws in those countries.
BY: 파워볼사이트