Okada Manila owner launches legal action against Kazuo Okada in Hong Kong for “fraud and violence”

September 13, 2022 Philippines Casino & Hotel Industry Updates

Tiger Resort Asia Ltd (TRAL), the Hong Kong-based entity that holds 99.9% of shares in Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment Inc (TRLEI) – operator of Okada Manila – says it has filed a criminal complaint against Kazuo Okada in Hong Kong in relation to his May takeover of the Philippines integrated resort.

It has also forewarned of more “criminal and civil cases” to be filed in the near future.

According to information provided overnight, TRAL via its Hong Kong legal team has filed the complaint against Mr Okada before the Hong Kong Police Wan Chai Division for committing fraud and violence during and after the 31 May takeover.

“As a result of Kazuo Okada’s criminal acts, the operations of Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment Inc. (TRLEI) and Okada Manila have been unjustly paralyzed, and consequently TRAL has suffered significant and irreparable loss,” the complaint reads.

In particular, TRAL accuses the Kazuo Okada team of deceiving the Philippine Supreme Court into providing a Status Que Ante Order in the weeks before the takeover by submitting an antiquated registration document from before his 2017 ouster from TRLEI, misrepresenting the Hong Kong Registry. This, TRAL said, has since been updated to reflect his removal from the company.

As reported by Inside Asian Gaming, the TRAL-backed board regained control of Okada Manila on 2 September following an order from Philippines gaming regulator PAGCOR, acting on a Department of Justice ruling.

“We are thankful that Hong Kong authorities have acted upon the criminal complaints against Kazuo Okada and his cohorts,” TRAL said.

“This is just the beginning of the slew of criminal and civil cases that we will be filing against the Kazuo Group for their blatant disregard of the law.

“While we put in order the management and operations of Okada Manila, we are conducting an investigation on the illegal cash withdrawals from the casino cage, the unfair treatment and illegal dismissal of our staff, as well as the overpayments to contractors. We will submit these as further evidence to the Hong Kong Police and use these to file criminal and civil lawsuits in Hong Kong.”

In a separate press release late last week, TRAL confirmed that it had held its first Board of Directors meeting since reclaiming control of the property but revealed that Mr Okada did not attend despite retaining his position on the TRLEI board as per PAGCOR’s instructions.

TRAL noted that, “Only Kazuo Okada and his interpreter are allowed to enter Okada Manila. Tonyboy Cojuangco, Dindo Espeleta, and other members of the ousted illegally-constituted board are barred from entering the property. Okada, however, did not join the board meeting in person or via video conference.”