The Manila Times
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended the filing of additional criminal charges for large-scale illegal recruitment and estafa against London-based Italian entrepreneur Adel En Nouri and several others in connection with an alleged recruitment scam. In a 10-page resolution, the DOJ Office of the Prosecutor in Tanauan City granted a motion for reconsideration filed by complainants Maria Anne Castro and Brian De Chavez, effectively reinstating Adel En Nouri and Mohammed En Nouri as respondents in the case. The complainants initially moved to withdraw the case against the two respondents, prompting their exclusion. However, they later sought their re-inclusion, arguing that they had not fully understood the legal consequences of their withdrawal and only grasped its implications after consulting legal counsel. In a March order, the DOJ directed Adel En Nouri and Mohammed En Nouri to submit their comment on the motion for reconsideration, but they failed to comply. This led the prosecution to reassess the evidence and ultimately include them anew in the criminal complaint. Based on the complaint, the respondents presented themselves as representatives of Tamber International Placement Agency, which records from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) show is not licensed to recruit workers for overseas employment. It added that Adel En Nouri and Mohammed En Nouri allegedly posed as employers, which directly induced the complainants to engage in the recruitment arrangement. The DOJ also found probable cause to charge all respondents with estafa, after the complainants reportedly paid P80,000 each, or a total of P160,000, based on what were later determined to be false representations. The case is separate from criminal proceedings filed against Adel En Nouri and others. On March 4, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Bacoor City issued an arrest warrant against him and several co-accused for qualified human trafficking under Republic Act 9208, as amended by Republic Act 10364, a non-bailable offense. A second arrest warrant was later issued on April 10 by the same court for serious illegal detention and large-scale illegal recruitment charges, both also non-bailable offenses. The complainants have sought assistance from the Philippine National Police (PNP) in pursuing the issuance of an Interpol red notice against En Nouri, which requests global law enforcement agencies to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition or legal proceedings.
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