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Jack Lam’s return offer still available


Junket mogul Jack Lam is yet to show his face in the Philippines after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered his arrest last December.

Lam is in trouble for allegedly offering bribes to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre and a number of immigration officials in relation to his illegal online gambling operations at Fontana Leisure Park and Casino in Pampanga.

Over the new year, Aguirre has revealed that he was offered  P100 million (US$2 million) per month in order to protect Lam’s online gambling business in the country.

The offer allegedly came up during a meeting between the two in late November, two days after 1,300 illegal Chinese workers were detained at Lam’s Fontana Leisure Park and Casino.

In December, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the arrest of the Jimei chairman for “bribery and economic sabotage,” but the businessman had already left the country by November 29, according to local sources.

While Aguirre has reiterated that Lam will be allowed to return to the Philippines as long as he faces criminal charges and pays taxes, Lam has still yet to respond.

“Before Christmas, feelers have been sent saying Jack Lam wants to return to the Philippines. There has been no progress after that," Aguirre told local reporters on Tuesday.

Aguirre added that Lam would also be required to secure a proper online gambling license, as well as issue a statement promising he will not attempt to corrupt officials if he wished to return, according to local media.

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