The Sandiganbayan has barred Pharmally Pharmaceutical executive Mohit Dargani from leaving the Philippines for an 18-day trip abroad. The decision comes as he faces a graft charge linked to P4.1 billion in anomalous transactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The court found no justifiable reasons for his travel request.
In a resolution dated November 7, the Sandiganbayan's Fifth Division denied Mohit Dargani's request to travel to Spain, Germany, and Thailand from November 16 to 28. Dargani, who served as Pharmally's treasurer and secretary, said he intended to go to Spain for a routine checkup and to visit relatives, to Germany to attend a medical trade fair, and to Thailand for a wedding in Bangkok.
However, the court noted that there was no indication Dargani's medical condition could not be treated by doctors in the Philippines, and that his attendance at the wedding was not indispensable. “The court notes that there are no justifiable reasons for [the] accused’s travel. It should be emphasized that [the] accused bears the burden of showing that seeking medical care in Madrid, Spain is necessary due to a threat to health or that he is suffering from a serious medical condition,” the Sandiganbayan said.
The court also upheld the prosecution's argument that Dargani holds both Philippine and Spanish citizenships, a fact he did not disclose in his travel request. Dargani faces one count of graft linked to P4.1 billion in anomalous transactions involving the Department of Budget and Management’s Procurement Service during the coronavirus pandemic.
In the background, the former Pharmally executive spent six months behind bars between 2021 and 2022 after the Senate blue ribbon committee cited him in contempt over his evasive answers during its probe of the Pharmally deal. Senate President Tito Sotto III ordered his release in June 2022. Dargani and his sister Twinkle, who also served as Pharmally president, were caught trying to flee the country through a foiled flight from Davao City to Malaysia. Twinkle has since evaded the court’s jurisdiction and remains at large.