On October 18, a Philippine judge rejected a request by Japanese gaming magnate Kazuo Okada to throw out charges of “grave coercion” in the takeover of the Okada Manila integrated resort (IR) in Entertainment City on May 31.
According to the Manila Times, Judge Placido Garcia denied the motion filed by Kazuo and his associates, Filipino businessman Antonio “Tonyboy” Cojuangco, Dindo Espeleta and lawyer Florentino “Binky” Herrera.
Grave coercion occurs when one person prevents another from doing something not prohibited by law through use of violence, threats or intimidation, and without any lawful authority.
Representatives of the Japanese billionaire seized control of Okada Manila after the Philippine Supreme Court issued a status quo ante order (SQAO) directing the “immediate reinstatement” of Okada as shareholder, director, chairman and CEO of Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment Inc. (TRLEI), which operates the resort.
The Okada team maintained control of the resort until early September, when the country’s gaming regulator, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), ordered them to vacate the premises. The Supreme Court had clarified that the SQAO did not give Okada the right to replace the board of directors with his own officers.
Earlier this month, the Justice Department indicted Kazuo and associates on the coercion charges, but dismissed other complaints including kidnapping, illegal detention and unjust vexation. On October 17, the tycoon was arrested on arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and released after posting bail. Cojuangco, Espeleta and Herrera all surrendered to police and posted cash bonds.
According to MSN, Kazuo called his arrest a “brief inconvenience” and charged his accusers with “relentless intimidation.”
“In the end, I can prove that I am the rightful and beneficial owner of Okada Manila,” he said. “I am confident that the legal process in the Philippine courts system will vindicate us in all the cases filed against me and my business associates.”
Okada was the force behind the Manila IR and also established TRLEI and its parent companies, Tiger Resort Asia Ltd. and Universal Entertainment Corp. In 2017, he was ousted on charges of embezzlement and mismanagement of company funds.
He continues to deny wrongdoing and says he will pursue the case to the end. “I have given my instructions to my legal team to avail of all legal remedies to ensure that those who fooled and robbed me in Okada Manila be sent to jail for their lies, deceit and usurping operational control of Okada Manila,” he said.
According to Inside Asian Gaming, a resolution from the judge stated, “Considering that the allegations were sufficiently subscribed against the accused in this case, the next logical step for this court is to ascertain the veracity of said allegations in a full-blown trial to determine whether or not the accused are guilty of the offense charged in this case.”
