Remulla transfers complaint vs Fil-Indian businessman to his office

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 18) – Justice Secretary Boying Remulla has ordered the transfer to his office of the illegal possession of firearms and drug complaint filed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) against Fil-Indian businessman Amith Chandiramani for "the conduct of cause build-up and preliminary investigation."

The complaint was originally pending before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Dasmariñas in Cavite but the department order dated September 11 designated Assistant State Prosecutor (ASP) Michael John Humarang to handle the case and if warranted by evidence, file charges before the court against Chandiramani.

"Likewise, ASP Humarang shall handle all cases between/among the same parties which are connected to, necessarily included, or as a consequence of these cases, including counter charges, which might rise in the future," the order stated.

Remulla has yet to specify the reason for the transfer but in his directive, he said it was "in the interest of service and pursuant to the provisions of existing laws."

In June, Chandiramani was arrested in his home in Dasmariñas, Cavite by the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Special Action Force, and Cavite Provincial Police Office.

Authorities recovered several firearms and ammunition.

Chandiramani's lawyer Edmundo Magpantay said the complaint for illegal possession of firearms with respect to the rifle and illegal possession of explosives with regard to the fragmentation grenade for alleged violation of the rules on search and seizure was already dismissed by the Dasmariñas prosecutor's office.

However, the PNP filed a motion for reconsideration (MR).

"This is particularly true since the MR is still part of the preliminary investigation. However, the Office of the City Prosecutor is yet to comply with the said order despite that it already received the DO," Magpantay noted.

Chandiramani filed a separate complaint against his brother, billionaire Rajiv, for falsification of documents, which is under preliminary investigation in the Department of Justice.