Ex-Philippine leader guilty of corruption, jailed for life

PHILIPPINES: 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 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 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.

He said on 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.

Eirlier a Philippine court ordered that 87 million dollars frozen in the accounts of deposed president Joseph Estrada, be handed over to the state.

The funds, including protection money from illegal gambling operators, embezzled tobacco taxes, and commissions from insider trading, will be “forfeited”, the special anti-graft court ruled.

Meanwhile Estrada is to appeal his conviction for corruption, his lawyer said minutes after a court sentenced him to life in prison.

“He is going to fight this out. He will be acquitted in the Supreme Court,” defence lawyer Rufus Rodriguez told reporters. Estrada slumped in his chair as the verdict sank in, and later denounced the trial as a sham.

“This is a special (court) division created to convict me,” he told reporters as police ushered him out of the courtroom. “As we expected, the court convicted me,” he said. “Against the advise of my friends I submitted myself to the judiciary believing that the case would be tried on its merits.”

During the trial he has been held at his luxurious compound, and the court ruled he would be remain under house arrest until further orders. The court also 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.

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.”

Manila, Wednesday, AFP