The Zamboanga City Regional Trial Court Branch 12 convicted Flora Sarau Albao, a Revenue Officer IV at BIR Zamboanga City, on 12 counts of money laundering after extorting P500,000 from a victim in 2022. She maintained 36 bank accounts and deposited amounts exceeding her salary.
MANILA, Philippines — Flora Sarau Albao, Revenue Officer IV at Revenue District No. 93A of BIR Zamboanga City, was convicted by the Zamboanga City Regional Trial Court Branch 12 on 12 counts of money laundering under Sections 4(a) and 4(b) of Republic Act 9160, the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001, as amended.
She was arrested in May 2022 during an entrapment operation after extorting P500,000 from a victim. The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) investigation revealed she owned 36 accounts across four banks. She deposited an average of P93,000 from May to August 2022, more than double her monthly salary of P49,835 as a Salary Grade 19 employee, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said.
The court sentenced her to 7 to 13 years in prison and a P3-million fine for each of the first six counts, and 4 to 6 years plus a P1.5-million fine for each of the remaining six counts.
The DOJ welcomed the conviction, prosecuted by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Mary Jane Sytat along with AMLC Legal Officers Charlemagne Tambo and Claudine Joy Gonzales.
