Former Philippine leader Estrada jailed for life UPDATE

Former Philippine leader Estrada jailed for life UPDATE

	Published : Wed, 12 Sep 2007 03:10 By : Agencies Print this Story

MANILA (ThomsonFinancial) - Former Philippine movie star and deposed president Joseph Estrada was found guilty of massive corruption on Wednesday and ordered to spend the rest of his life in prison.

Winding up a six-year trial that the 70-year-old had repeatedly insisted was politically motivated, a special anti-corruption court ruled he was guilty of plundering tens of millions of dollars in tax kickbacks and bribes. The court ordered that 87 million dollars frozen in his accounts be handed over to the state.

The case against Estrada has marked a bitter chapter in Philippine politics that began when the onetime action hero was ousted from power in 2001, a move which led to violent protests in the streets.

Estrada repeatedly denied the corruption allegations, accusing the business elite, his successor President Gloria Arroyo and the powerful Roman Catholic church of conspiring against him because of his populist platform.

Estrada said Tuesday he had twice rejected offers from Arroyo to clear his name in exchange for his voluntary departure from the Philippines.

'I told them that I will never leave the country and I am prepared to face the charges against me,' he said.

'Because of this, I was not only arrested and jailed, I was also humiliated and charged with a non-bailable offense of plunder,' he said.

During the trial he has been held at his luxurious compound, and the court ruled he would remain under house arrest until further orders. The court acquitted him of the lesser charge of perjury.

The military had put troops on high alert to ensure calm for the announcement of the verdict, with extra forces placed on standby in military bases around Manila to aid police if necessary.

Schools near the court were ordered closed, and President Arroyo was advised by her security staff to remain in the palace.

The case against Estrada has been a tricky one for Arroyo, who succeeded Estrada in 2001.

The guilty verdict against Estrada, who remains popular among much of the nation's poor, risks setting off demonstrations in the streets. An acquittal would have suggested she had come to power six years ago without a mandate.

In 2001, thousands of Estrada supporters tried to lay siege to the presidential palace to reinstate him.

Arroyo declared a state of emergency and called in troops to quash what she later said was an uprising aimed at toppling the government. Four people died in that incident, while over 100 were arrested.

In a taped message smuggled to a radio station on the eve of the verdict, Estrada said he believed the public had already decided he was innocent.

'I have been in detention for six years, four months and 17 days,' he said. 'But because of your prayers, help and love I have survived this heavy burden.'

'I am prepared because I have already been acquitted by the people,' he said. 'My personal freedom is no longer important.'

The Philippine stock market rose after the verdict with the composite index last up 0.7 percent at 3,289. The Philippine currency, the peso, strengthened with the dollar last fetching 46.89 pesos versus 47.12 late Tuesday.

afp/cl

The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.