Estrada asks SC to defer trial<\/p>\n
MANILA (DPA): Former Philippine president Joseph Estrada asked
\nthe Supreme Court on Thursday to defer the start of his trial on
\na capital charge of plunder set for next week.<\/p>\n
In a four-page petition, Estrada noted the court had yet to
\ndecide on an earlier motion questioning the legality of the
\nplunder law due to its ambiguity. He also noted that there were
\nstill a number of unresolved motions before the Sandiganbayan
\nantigraft court, which is scheduled to try the case on Oct. 1.<\/p>\n
\"Without meaning to be presumptuous, one could not discount
\nthe real possibility of the plunder law being ruled
\nunconstitutional,\" Estrada said in the petition.<\/p>\n
Plunder or theft of public funds in excess of US$1 million is
\na nonbailable offense that carries a maximum penalty of death.<\/p>\n
Estrada, who has been in detention since April, is accused of
\namassing up to 4 billion pesos ($80 million) in illegal wealth
\nduring his 31-month rule.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/estrada-asks-sc-to-defer-trial-1447893297",
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