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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider NBI arrests 6 Indians, 3 Filipinos for 'carnapping, syndicated estafa'

NBI arrests 6 Indians, 3 Filipinos for 'carnapping, syndicated estafa'

Published Jun 27, 2025 01:51 pm
Six Indian nationals and three Filipinos have been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for their alleged involvement in carnapping and syndicated estafa.
In a statement, the NBI said the suspects were arrested last June 24 in Paranaque City by operatives of the bureau’s National Capital Region (NBI-NCR). The carnapped vehicle was recovered, it also said.
It said they were members of a syndicate involved in “assume balance-talon scheme.”
The suspects were identified by the NBI as Indian nationals Sajjan Sarkar, Sai Charan, Kulvatnh Thati, Gayatri Sarma, Ray Anand, and Nithin Kamepalli, and Filipinos Teotima G. Batutay, Rose L. Torion, and Michael D. Castulo.
They had been presented before the Paranaque City Prosecutor’s Office and charged with carnapping and syndicated estafa.
The NBI said the complainant failed to pay the monthly amortization of the vehicle to a bank and offered it for sale on assume balance process.
It said “the vehicle was assumed by a car dealer which passed it on to Batutay who sold the vehicle to Castulo, who, together with Sarkar, mortgaged it to Anand for P120,000.”
It also said the bank ran after the complainant after the amortizations fell due, but the complainant failed to return the vehicle.
“Complainant was able to talk to Subject Castulo for the recovery of the vehicle, but the latter demanded P450,000 from the former for its return; and if money was not given, the latter threatened to tear down the vehicle (chop chop),” it added.
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