Manila: The Philippine justice department yesterday charged singer Bert Nievera and his wife Carolina with fraud for allegedly failing to pay a total of 14.5 million pesos (Dh1.08 million) to an investor in their restaurant business and for issuing securities without the proper licence.
The case, which stemmed from a complaint by the anti-organised crime division of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and businesswoman Monina Nepomuceno, was filed before the local Makati City Regional Trial Court. Nepomuceno alleged that the Nieveras swindled her when they put their Country Waffles restaurant business up for sale in suburban Alabang.
In a five-page resolution, the Department of Justice (DOJ) charged the Nieveras and Carolina's three children from a previous marriage for syndicated fraud, and recommended no bail adding there was probable cause to file the suit.
"In the instant case, it is undisputable that respondents, being incorporators/directors of Country Waffles Holdings Incorporated, promised the public, including complainant, quick financial gains on her investments.
"However, said company failed to return the investment to complainant, who suffered damages in the amount to her unrecouped investment," the ruling says.
It took the DOJ to resolve the case after Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Leah Tanodra-Armamento allegedly lost records of the complaint in her office.
