Kim Chiu’s sister Lakam charged over alleged P44-million theft

Lakam Chiu, the older sister of actress-TV host Kim Chiu, is facing 124 counts of qualified theft in connection with the alleged “financial discrepancies” involving over P44 million in corporate funds at their handbag company.

Kim filed a qualified theft complaint against Lakam before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Quezon City in December 2025, citing the “serious financial discrepancies” she discovered within their business operations.

According to a resolution dated Sept. 1, the Quezon City prosecutors found sufficient basis to pursue the charges, with the criminal information formally filed against Lakam on July 15, 2026.

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In her statement, Kim said it was in June 2025 when she first noticed unusually large withdrawals and transactions from her and Lakam’s joint business bank accounts which the latter primarily handled. Kim confronted her sister who, the actress said, apologized and admitted that she had supposedly used the money for “gambling” and to pay “personal debts.”

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Lakam disputed Kim’s account, saying that she had invested the money in a casino-related business venture but that the venture failed.

The prosecutor identified 124 allegedly unlawful withdrawals from the company’s accounts, which formed the basis for the 124 counts of qualified theft filed against Lakam.

“The evidence on record establishes that respondent Lakambini unlawfully took and appropriated corporate funds in aggregate amount of P44,396,331.65, fully aware that the same did not belong to her,” part of the resolution read. “By exploiting the access and authority entrusted to her, respondent Lakambini was able to divert corporate funds for her personal gain, without the use of violence, intimidation, or force upon things.”

Meanwhile, the prosecutors dismissed a separate qualified theft complaint filed against Kim’s personal accountant, Helena Tayag.