By Benjamin Pulta/PNA
MANILA — Businessman Kenneth Dong, one of the accused in the importation of the PHP6.4-billion worth of shabu from China two years ago, was arraigned on Monday and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Dong entered a plea of not guilty during his arraignment before Branch 46 of the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC). The court set the pre-trial of the case Tuesday.
Others accused in the case are still at large: Chen Ju Long aka Richard Tan, Li Guang Feng aka Manny Li, Teejay Marcellana,
Chen I-Min, Jhu Ming Jyun, and Chen Rong Huan.
Prosecutors claimed the accused conspired with one another to commit the offense, with Tan acting as the shipper and/or consolidator of the cargoes, Li and Dong as facilitators of the packing list, Customs fixer Mark Taguba, Eirene May Tatad and Marcellana as facilitator, consignee and broker of the importation documents filed and processed at the Bureau of Customs (BOC), while Chen I-Min and Jhu Ming Yun acted as lessee of the warehouse in Valenzuela City, which was the destination of the dangerous drugs.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) initially filed the drug charges before Branch 284 of the Valenzuela RTC but its presiding judge Arthur Melicor junked the charges for transportation of illegal drugs, saying state prosecutors committed forum shopping since the filing of the case resembles the one it has filed against the same set of respondents and with the same arguments before the Manila RTC.
After the dismissal by the Valenzuela RTC, the DOJ then filed the case for the importation of illegal drugs against the respondents before the Manila RTC.
Dong was arrested by NBI agents in Muntinlupa City last February 4.
