Viral Portal News: Vitangcol

Ombudsman indicts Vitangcol for $30M extort attempt on Czech firm in exchange for MRT contracts

Unknown 3:21 PM $30M , Attempt , contracts , Czech , Exchange , extort , firm , indicts , Ombudsman , Vitangcol

<ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Former MRT chief was indicted by Ombudsman for two counts of graft </li> <li style="text-align: justify;">He allegedly attempted to extort $ 30M from a Czech firm in exchange for an MRT contract</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">Vitangcol also found administratively guilty, is perpetually barred from government service</li> </ul>MANILA, Philippines – That makes three in all. Already with a pending graft case against him, sacked Metro Rail Transit Authority (MRTA) General Manager Al Vitangcol III has been slapped by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales with two more graft charges in connection with his alleged attempt to extort $ 30 million from a Czech firm in exchange for an MRT contract. The P3.7 billion-contract involved the procurement of 48 coaches the planned expansion in MRT-3 in 2012. According to the Ombudsman’s investigative report which included testimonies from Inekon Group CEO Josef Husek and former Czech Ambassador to the Philippines Josef Rychtar, Vitangcol’s alleged emissary Wilson De Vera approached the two and purportedly demanded $ 30 million in exchange for the contract. The amount was later toned down to $ 2.5 million although Inekon still refused. “(The) totality of circumstances, taken together with the affirmative declarations of complainant’s witnesses” would show that Vitangcol attempted to extort Inekon in exchange for the contract,” the <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/779022/ex-mrt-chief-vitangcol-indicted-for-30m-extort-try">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> quoted the report as saying. The report added Vitangcol would later try to strong-arm Inekon into agreeing to join a 60-40 joint venture with another group personally selected by him to share in another contract for MRT’s mainentance. However, the company also turned the offer down. Aside from the graft raps, Morales also found Vitangcol administratively liable for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and unlawful solicitation and ordered him perpetually disqualified from government service and from holding public office. His retirement benefits were also forfeited. Vitangcol is currently facing a graft charge for giving out a maintenance contract without public bidding to a firm where his uncle was an incorporator. <a href="http://kickerdaily.com/ombudsman-indicts-vitangcol-for-30m-extort-attempt-on-czech-firm-in-exchange-for-mrt-contracts/" rel="nofollow">Kicker Daily News</a>

Former MRT chief was indicted by Ombudsman for two counts of graft He allegedly attempted to extort $ 30M from a Czech firm in exchange for ...