Dhaka:  An "execution suit" was filed with a Philippine court to facilitate the return of $15 million to Bangladesh in compliance with the legal process.

"The suit was filed by the Philippines Department of Justice on behalf of the authorities representing Bangladesh central bank in Philippines. It is a part of the process to get back the recovered money of $15 million," Suvankar Saha, executive director and spokesman of Bangladesh Bank, told news agency United News of Bangladesh. 

A Philippines court on October 19 ordered Banko Sentral ng Philipinas, the central bank of the country, to return about $15.25 million to Bangladesh, a portion of the money which was recovered after being stolen from Bangladesh Bank's reserve account and ending up in the South-east Asian country.

The Philippines court released the verdict after hearing an appeal in a case filed by the Department of Justice (DoJ) in the Philippines. The DoJ is acting on behalf of Bangladesh Bank in the case.

A total of $81 million stolen by international cyber hackers from Bangladesh Bank’s treasury account with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on February 5 is thought to have ended up in the Philippines, although only $15.25 million of that amount could be traced. The remaining amount, or at least some portion of it, is believed to have made its way into the country’s casino and gaming industry, which is not covered by its anti-money laundering laws.

After an investigation, Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) of the Philippines charged Philipino businessman Kim Wong for his involvement in the money laundering incident.