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Marikina City RTC orders arrest of British businessman Paryani on P16-M estafa case
Marikina City RTC orders arrest of British businessman Paryani on P16-M estafa case
The Marikina City regional trial court (RTC) has ordered the arrest of British businessman Lavish Mohan Paryani and his co-accused on a P16 million estafa case filed by a Filipino businessman.
The arrest order was issued by RTC Judge Rey Penacerrada Inciong based on a criminal complaint filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Paryani and his co-accused Reigna Reyes.
The DOJ charged Paryani and Reyes with violation of Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) on estafa or swindling. The case filed against them is non-bailable.
“Verily, prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction exists to support the indictment of respondents Lavish Mohan Paryani and Reigna Reyes for the crime of estafa…,” the DOJ said in filing the case in court.
The complaint against Paryani and Reyes alleged that they employed “false pretenses” when they secured a purchase order for 100 pieces of Apple Pro Vision worth P20 million from Solaire Resort North to convince businessman Mark Joseph de Guia to co-finance their transaction in the amount of P10 million with a promised interest of P2 million.
It also stated that to assure De Guia that he would be paid back the loan with interest on time, Paryani issued a post-dated check amounting to P16 million in exchange for the P10 million in cash handed to him by the complainant and further assured that the check will be funded when presented for encashment.
But when the check was presented for encashment on Nov. 25, 2024, it was dishonored by the bank on the ground of "account closed."
Despite demands to pay back the dishonored check, the complaint stated that Paryani and Reyes failed.
In resolving the complaint, the DOJ said that “De Guia would not have given his P10,000,000 cash to respondents had it not been for the issuance of the subject check.”
“After careful evaluation of the allegations as well as the pieces of evidence submitted in this case, this Office finds prima facie case with reasonable certainty of conviction to indict respondents…,” the DOJ also said.
In October last year, the Pasay City RTC issued an arrest order against Paryani and Reyes on charge of estafa for reportedly swindling P12 million from a company engaged in the wholesale distribution of electronic parts and communications equipment.
The arrest order was issued by RTC Judge August L. Tan of Branch 112.
Later, published reports stated that Reyes was arrested by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Southern District Field-Unit (CIDG-SDFU). Paryani, however, remained at large.
The Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office filed the estafa case against Paryani and Reyes based on a complaint lodged by Rheana’s Trading, Inc. (RTI), represented by Maria Anita T. Turqueza.