THE Justice department has assured the Bangladeshi government of the speedy return of $15 million of the funds stolen from it and which was turned over by Chinese casino junket operator Kim Wong, an official said Monday.
Chief State Counsel Ricardo Paras III said a petition was filed on Aug. 26 before a Manila Regional Trial Court seeking to have the $15 million forfeited in favor of Bangladesh.
He said the RTC ruled on Aug. 30 that the petition was sufficient in form and substance, and that it was now awaiting a comment from the Office of the Solicitor General before the money was returned to Bangladesh.
‘‘After filing their comment, we will now wait for the judgment of the court for the $15 million,’’ Paras said in a statement.
The $15 million was part of the $81 million that hackers stole from the Bangladeshi government in February.
The money was eventually coursed through fictitious accounts at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. and transferred in portions to Philippine Remittance Corp.
The money was subsequently delivered to Wong and to the high-rollers from Macau and China.
After being questioned during a Senate inquiry over the stolen funds, Wong returned the $15 million in two batches, one totaling $4.63 million and the other P488,280,000.