Former Mayor Samuel Co and wife Priscilla Ann of Pagadian jailed

Former Pagadian City Mayor Samuel Co and wife Priscilla Ann are now detained at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Headquarters in Manila over syndicated estafa charges.

The detained couple will be presented to the Iligan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) which issued the arrest order for them.

They have been put under government custody after their supposed involvement in the P12 billion scam allegedly perpetrated by officials of Aman Futures Group Phils. Inc., a so-called pyramid scheme that has reportedly victimized around 15,000 investors.

An arrest warrant was issued against Co last April.

The couple, who were arrested in their condominium unit in Taguig City, have repeatedly denied any involvement in the scheme, claiming they too, were victims.

The couple is facing syndicated estafa, a non-bailable crime.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Co gave Aman Futures a temporary business permit and representations made by him and his wife in behalf of the firm, made the investors believe that the company was legitimate.

Meanwhile, the DOJ is looking into the possible repatriation of Co’s co-accussed and scam mastermind Aman Futures founder Manuel Amalilio.

Amalilio is serving a two-year jail sentence in Malaysia for violating the country’s passport laws.

From: http://anc.yahoo.com/news/former-pagadian-mayor--wife-jailed-over-aman-futures-scam-010450849.html