Cops - Office Manager steals $300K from U.S. employer - Claims diplomatic immunity as son of former diplomat
In a new, bizarre twist on an all-too-familiar crime, the Honolulu Star Advertiser reports that a former office manager stole $300,000 from a local law firm because he believed, as a former diplomat's son, that he was immune from prosecution.
Nigel Salmingo expressed shock and surprise on being informed by police that he was under arrest for stealing the money. He wanted to know if he could talk to his mother before going to jail, claiming she was the one who always told him he was immune from prosecution.
Nigel Salmingo, 31, pleaded guilty in state court in Hawaii last week to 37 counts of theft, forgery and money laundering concerning the money he took from Winer Meheula & Devens between 2007 and 2009. The son of a former Philippines consulate general to Hawaii in the 1990s, he will be deported when he has served his sentence because he is not a citizen.
Salmingo reportedly used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle. He escaped detection for 18 months as he had the law firm's bank and credit statements sent to his home and made false entries in its books to conceal his crimes, the article says.
He faces maximum terms of 10 years on first-degree theft and money laundering counts and five years on the other counts when he is sentenced next year. However, regardless of what amount of time he gets, Salmingo probably will be released in 18 months to two years, his lawyer, Michael Green, tells the newspaper. He indicated his client felt he should be excused because he didn't know he could be incarcerated for theft, given his dad's former diplomatic immunity. He also said he was sorry about the confusion and believes someone should have told him earlier.
The state prosecutor already knew Salmingo was a thief. His employer already knew he was a thief. I warned them. He'd already left me $150,000 in debt by fraud, forgery, i.d. theft, etc., but no one would help me. The prosecutor said I had no case. I bet it was because I had no money to hire a wealthy law firm.
ReplyDeleteThe investigating detective had already warned his employer to not let Salmingo handle any of the policeman's union's affairs.
You appear to have a lot of personal familiarity with this individual and this case, Mr. or Ms. A. Would you care to enlighten our readers with further details?
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