Smartmatic founder Roger Piñate and former vice president Jorge Miguel Vasquez have surrendered to US authorities to face charges related to an alleged bribery and money laundering scheme involving the 2016 Philippine elections.
Piñate and Vasquez appeared in a Miami federal court on Monday, with Piñate posting an $8.5 million bond and Vasquez a $1 million bond.
They are among four individuals indicted by a federal grand jury, including former Commission on Elections chairman Andres Bautista and former Smartmatic executive Elie Moreno.
The charges include conspiracy to violate the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and money laundering, with allegations that over $1 million in bribes were paid to secure election contracts.
Smartmatic has placed Piñate and Moreno on leave, asserting that no voter fraud is alleged and emphasizing their commitment to election integrity.
Source : PhilNews24 | August 15, 2024
SMARTMATIC FOUNDER AND FORMER VP TURN THEMSELVES INTO US AUTHORITIES
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