'HEIGHTENED FLIGHT RISK': Pharmally's Mohit Dargani barred from traveling abroad for checkup, business trip

The Sandiganbayan has barred Pharmally Pharmaceutical executive Mohit Dargani from traveling abroad due to his pending graft case, despite assurances that he is not a flight risk and would only seek a medical checkup, among others.

Dargani sought the court's clearance to travel to Spain, Germany, and Thailand from 16 to 28 November for a routine checkup, a medical trade fair, business meetings, and to attend a cousin’s wedding. 

He assured the Sandiganbayan that he has no intent to flee the country and evade the case, citing his history of strict compliance with court subpoenas. 

Besides, he pointed out that he permanently resides in the Philippines with his partner and 10-month-old son, who will not be traveling with him. 

Dargani is one of the key players in the Pharmally scandal involving the alleged overpriced sale of medical supplies for the government’s Covid-19 response. 

He was indicted by the Ombudsman for graft, along with his co-accused, including ex-PS-DBM officer-in-charge Christopher Lloyd Lao, in 2023.

Then-ombudsman Samuel Martires said the PS-DBM and Pharmally officials’ concerted acts enabled the latter to bag P4.16 billion worth of 51,400 units of RT-PCR test kits despite being a startup with small capital in 2020.

Despite furnishing the court with copies of appointments and invitations, the Sandiganbayan is convinced that Dargani is a “heightened flight risk” because he holds dual citizenship in the Philippines and Spain.

“This fact presents a heightened flight risk, as it affords the accused the facility to easily enter and remain in a foreign jurisdiction, potentially complicating or frustrating extradition procedures, should he fail to return,” the resolution dated 7 November reads. 

Furthermore, the court also took into consideration Dargani’s sister, Twinkle Dargani—Pharmally’s president—who remained at large and yet to be arraigned, fueling concerns of possible evasion. 

“The grounds for travel are either routine, can be conducted remotely, or are purely for leisure. Coupled with the material non-disclosure of his dual citizenship and the attendant flight risk, the court cannot be assured that the accused will faithfully comply with the condition of his provisional liberty and return as promised,” the Sandiganbayan ruled. 

At the height of the Senate’s investigation into pandemic deals in 2021, the Dargani siblings were arrested in Davao City while onboard a private plane bound for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, “attempting” to flee the country and evade the probe.