TV HOST-ACTRESS Kim Chiu has filed a complaint against her sister Lakambini Chiu after discovering financial discrepancies in their business.
Kim, together with her legal counsels Xylene Dolor and Archernar Gregana, filed the complaint and submitted her sworn statement together with all the documents and evidence before the Office of the Assistant City Prosecutor in Quezon City.
“Today, nag-file si Kim ng criminal case against Lakambini Chiu,” Dolor said. “We filed a criminal complaint for qualified theft. That’s all we can share for now.”
The financial discrepancies were discovered from their business, which Kim’s legal counsel opted not to mention. “Right now I am not authorized to name the business but I think fans would know kung ano po ‘yung business ventures na she shared with Miss Lakambini Chiu.”
Rumor about this rift between the Chiu siblings have surfaced months back and fans have been mentioning that the business venture is Kim’s bag business.
Dolor said the qualified theft complaint filed covered the current fiscal year.
When asked about Lakambini’s role in the business, “Generally I can say that she (Lakambini Chiu) is part of the management of the business.”
Apart from her legal counsels, Kim was also accompanied by her sister Twinkle and her brother-in-law.
Dolor said there have been plenty of attempts to settle the problem internally.
In a statement released Monday, December 1, the actress-host said the decision was made in the interest of transparency, accountability, and protecting her company.
“After careful consideration and months of internal review, I have made the difficult decision to file a legal case for qualified theft against my sister, Lakambini Chiu, in relation to serious financial discrepancies discovered within my business operations. This decision did not come easily. It is one of the most painful steps I have ever taken in my life,” Kim said.
She added that there were “substantial amounts connected to my business assets that were found missing.”
This legal step was taken to “protect not just my company, but also the livelihoods of the people who work with me.”
Kim is asking for privacy in this difficult time in her family.
Off camera, Kim managed only two words when ABS-CBN News asked how she was coping: “Sobrang bigat.” (ABS-CBN News)
