MANILA, Philippines — Lavish Mohan Paryani, a British businessman, is now facing two arrest warrants after being implicated in a P16 million scam involving a fake purchase order for Apple Vision Pro units. Paryani, along with his accomplice Reigna Reyes, was charged with estafa in connection with fraudulent claims about a bulk purchase order from Solaire North, a luxury casino in the Philippines.
The arrest warrant was issued by Judge Rey Penacerrada Inciong of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Marikina City on February 21, 2025. The case stems from a complaint filed by businessman Mark Joseph de Guia, who was deceived into investing P10 million in a deal with Paryani and Reyes. The accused claimed to have secured a bulk order of 100 Apple Vision Pro units worth P20 million from Solaire North.
To further convince de Guia of their legitimacy, Paryani issued a post-dated check for P16 million — the sum including capital and interest. However, when de Guia attempted to encash the check on November 25, 2024, the bank rejected it due to a closed account. Subsequent efforts to collect the payment were ignored, prompting de Guia to pursue legal action.
After reviewing the case, the Department of Justice (DOJ) found prima facie evidence against Paryani and Reyes. The DOJ cited the Revised Penal Code and referenced the Supreme Court’s ruling in Juaquico v. People, which clarified that deceit and damage must be present for an estafa conviction in cases involving worthless checks.
This is not the first time Paryani and Reyes have faced legal trouble. In October 2024, they were linked to a P12 million estafa case in Pasay City, where the duo allegedly defrauded another businessman under similar circumstances. While Reyes was arrested in connection with this case, Paryani managed to evade authorities and remains a fugitive. An active manhunt is underway, with law enforcement coordinating with immigration officials to determine if Paryani has already fled the country.
As of now, neither Paryani nor Reyes has commented publicly on the accusations, and Solaire North has not responded to inquiries regarding Reyes’ claimed affiliation with the company.
The Marikina RTC has set no bail for the accused, given the severity and repetitive nature of the alleged offenses.
