The Philippine anti-corruption court recently dismissed the motion to quash criminal charges filed by gambling investor Lin Ying Le, involving his alleged bribery of immigration officials with 50 million pesos. This case, which involves illegal labor and casino operations, has entered the next phase of trial since its exposure in 2016. Simply put, just because the co-defendants were acquitted does not mean you are too.
Court ruling: Charges are sufficient, no need for dismissal
The Sixth Division of the Anti-Corruption Court noted in its resolution that the charges against Lin Ying Le for violating Presidential Decree No. 46 remain valid. This decree prohibits public officials from receiving, and private individuals from offering, gifts or benefits in activities related to public office. Lin Ying Le had previously applied for the dismissal of charges, arguing that the case lacked sufficient factual basis. The court, however, considered that at this stage, it is only necessary for the prosecution's allegations to constitute a criminal act, not the strength of the evidence. The judge emphasized that unlike the co-defendants, Lin Ying Le was not charged with bribery or plunder, hence the protection against double jeopardy does not apply to him.
Case background: 50 million pesos bribe for the release of 1300 workers
The core of the case stems from a bribery incident in November 2016. Lin Ying Le is accused of delivering 50 million pesos through intermediary Wenceslao Sombero to then Deputy Commissioners of the Immigration Bureau, Al Argosino and Michael Robles, in exchange for the release of over 1300 Chinese citizens detained at the Fontana Resort and Casino in Pampanga for illegal employment. Argosino and Robles were later sentenced to long-term imprisonment for plunder and corruption, with at least 30 million pesos of the involved funds returned to the Justice Department. Lin Ying Le denies direct involvement, arguing that he is not a public official and had no direct transactions with immigration officers, but the court found that the indictment sufficiently described the illegal acts.
Litigation continues: Travel ban maintained, case progresses
Besides rejecting the motion for dismissal, the court maintained the travel ban on Lin Ying Le to prevent him from leaving the Philippines during the trial. Prosecutors had labeled him a "fugitive," claiming he was currently in Hong Kong, but the court did not adopt this classification, citing a lack of evidence of his departure time or awareness of the charges. Lin Ying Le is associated with the Hong Kong-listed Jimei International Entertainment Group, which operates gambling and resort assets including Fontana. The Fontana Resort and Country Club was indefinitely closed by the Clark authorities in early 2025, showing ongoing regulatory scrutiny of the related properties. With the dismissal motion rejected, the case will move into the next stage of litigation. Interested in the latest developments in Southeast Asian gambling legal cases? PASA official website continues to track.
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leader" gambling industry news channel:https://t.me/pasa_news
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