Kazuo Okada arrested by Philippine police after landing in Manila

October 19, 2022 Philippines Crime & Legal Industry Updates

Philippines authorities arrested Japanese gaming mogul Kazuo Okada on Monday just moments after he landed at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

According to details released by the Tiger Resort Asia Ltd (TRAL)-backed board of Okada Manila operator Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment Inc (TRLEI) – and later confirmed by police – Mr Okada was detained at 5.40am on Monday morning in relation to grave coercion charges lodged against him.

He later posted bail.

His arrest relates to the 31 May incident in which a group representing him stormed Okada Manila and forcibly took control of the property in response to a Status Que Ante Order (SQAO) issued by the Supreme Court of the Philippines ordering the TRLEI board be temporarily restored to its status prior to Mr Okada’s ousting in 2017.

The Okada group occupied Okada Manila for three months before the Department of Justice ruled that the SQAO did not give him the right to seize control, leading to the TRAL-backed board reclaiming the property in early September.

The Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) of Paranaque Branch 90 and Branch 91 later issued warrants of arrest against Mr Okada, Antonio “Tonyboy” Cojuangco, Dindo Espeleta and lawyer Florentino “Binky” Herrera on 11 October after the TRAL-backed board pressed charges.