$68-M casino scam fugitive nabbed

A Filipino fugitive accused of masterminding a $68-million casino investment scam was arrested in Bali, Indonesia, earlier this month and is set to be deported to the Philippines, officials confirmed on Tuesday, 26 November.

The suspect, Hector Aldwin Pantollana, 35, allegedly defrauded thousands of people through a Ponzi scheme linked to casino junkets.

According to Indonesia’s acting Director General of Immigration, Saffar Muhammad Godam, Pantollana was arrested on 9 November at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.

He was flagged by an automatic gate system that identified him using biometric data as a wanted individual as he attempted to board a flight to Hong Kong.

Pantollana first arrived in Bali on 10 October. By 31 October, Interpol had issued a Red Notice for his capture, requesting international police cooperation to arrest and detain him on behalf of the Philippines.

His arrest followed months of investigation by Philippine authorities, who named him a suspect in a $67.7-million (approximately P4 billion) scam that duped investors with promises of high returns.

The Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission confirmed that the scam involved fabricated investments in the casino junket industry. Criminal charges were filed against Pantollana in May but he fled the country before legal action could proceed.

Saffar said the fugitive was turned over to the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta on Tuesday and he is scheduled for repatriation on Wednesday.