MANILA, Philippines – The United States has returned to the Philippine government more than $1 million from forfeited assets of a Filipino ex-general who was accused of stashing illegally obtained wealth in America.
U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg on Wednesday handed a check for $1.38 million to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, who prosecutes government officials accused of corruption.
The returned money consists of proceeds from the sale of a New York condominium unit and funds from two Citibank accounts that were traced to former military comptroller retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia.
Goldberg says Philippine and U.S. investigators worked closely to determine that Garcia laundered a substantial portion of his criminal proceeds through the U.S.
Garcia was initially charged with plunder for allegedly helping steal huge military funds, but later pleaded to lesser offenses.
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