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Two foreigners, 11 Pinoys get 3 years for crypto scam

Philippines | National

Two foreigners, 11 Pinoys get 3 years for crypto scam

By Jeffrey Damicog

Thirteen persons, including two foreigners, were sentenced to three years of imprisonment due to their involvement in a cryptocurrency scam operation, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced on Wednesday, June 3.

Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 211 has issued a ruling that found the 13 accused guilty of aiding or abetting in the commission of cybercrime under Section 5 (a) of Republic Act (RA) No. 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

The NBI said the RTC made the ruling after the 13 pleaded guilty during an arraignment that was held last May 26.

All 13 were initially charged with computer-related fraud and misuse of devices, both under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, but expressed their desire to plead guilty on a lesser offense.

“After explaining to them the consequences of the plea, all the accused willingly and voluntarily pleaded 'guilty' to the lesser offense of Section 5 (a) for all the cases against them,” said the NBI.

In the meantime, the NBI said all 13 are currently detained at the facility of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Mandaluyong City while awaiting their application for probation.

All 13 persons were among 15 individuals who got arrested last May 9 during a raid conducted by operatives of the NBI’s Dangerous Drugs Division (NBI-DDD) of a clandestine cryptocurrency scam operation at a condominium in Mandaluyong City.

“Based on on-site Digital Forensic Examination of the said operation, it was apparent that scamming network activities were being conducted thus the arrest of the individuals present and their subsequent inquest,” the NBI noted..

Related Tags

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