DOJ orders Chris Brown to answer estafa charge

By: Jerome Aning - 9 years ago

(FILES) This file photo taken on August 24, 2014 shows US musician Chris Brown arriving on the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) at the Forum in Inglewood, California. US hip-hop star Chris Brown took to swearing and break-dancing as he ranted on July 23, 2015 about being stranded in the Philippines over a row with an influential sect. The 26-year-old was stopped from leaving the Philippine capital on July 22, a day after performing at a Manila concert, amid a fraud complaint filed against him by the indigenous Christian group Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ). AFP PHOTO / FILES / Mark Ralston

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued summons to American RnB recording artist Chris Brown and his promoter to answer the estafa (swindling) suit filed against him by the administrator of Philippine Arena owned by Iglesia ni Cristo (INC).

State Prosecutor Christine Marie Buencamino issued subpoenas to Brown and his promoter, John Michael Pio Roda, to appear in the preliminary investigation hearing set on Friday at 2 p.m.

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“[Y]ou are hereby directed to obtain, personally or through representatives, copies of the complaint, supporting affidavits and other evidence submitted by the complainant. You or your representative are/is likewise entitled to examine all other evidence submitted by complainant,” the subpoena stated.

Maligaya Development Corp. (MDC) filed a complaint in the DOJ against Brown and Roda on July 21 over the singer’s aborted performance at Philippine Area in Bocaue, Bulacan province, on Dec. 31, 2014. The two were accused of estafa by deceit, a violation of Article 314 paragraph 2(a) of the Revised Penal Code.

MDC said it contracted Brown to sing at Philippine Arena for $1 million and paid him and Roda’s company, Pinnacle Live Concepts Inc., a total of $882,500 (about P40 million). Brown, however, did not show up.

In its complaint, MDC said it suffered embarrassment as fans who had already bought tickets were angry over the concert’s cancellation.

On Monday last week, Brown returned to Manila for another concert, this time at a mall in Pasay City.

The following day, however, he was prevented from leaving after Glicerio Santos IV, MDC chief operating officer and INC legal counsel, sought Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s assistance in prosecuting the singer.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) later issued a lookout bulletin order against Brown, who was required to seek a clearance before being allowed to depart.

Roda, a Canadian, is currently detained at the BI jail in Taguig City. He is facing a deportation case for allegedly working without a permit, for defrauding his creditors by absconding and for being an undesirable alien.