Smartmatic Executives Indicted on Bribery Charges

Roger Piñate, founder of Smartmatic, and former VP Jorge Miguel Vasquez surrendered to U.S. authorities to face charges of bribery and money laundering linked to the 2016 Philippine elections. They, alongside former Commission on Elections chairman Andres Bautista and another Smartmatic executive, were indicted for allegedly paying over $1 million in bribes to secure election services contracts. The U.S. Justice Department claims the defendants financed these bribes through over-invoicing and created fraudulent contracts to cover their tracks. Piñate was released on an $8.5 million bond, while Vasquez posted $1 million, with Vasquez pleading not guilty, but Piñate did not enter a plea. If convicted, they each face significant prison time, with the charges stemming from a broader investigation that began in 2019.