Court orders further probe of Estrada

Court orders further probe of Estrada

MANILA (AFP): An antigraft court sent one of three corruption- related cases against ousted Philippine leader Joseph Estrada back to state prosecutors on Thursday, saying further investigation was needed.

The Sandiganbayan court, in a resolution, remanded the case to Ombudsman Aniano Desierto and ordered him to conduct "further preliminary investigation" into the charge that Estrada illegally used an alias to conceal secret bank accounts.

Desierto was given 10 days to submit copies of the prosecution's evidence to Estrada's lawyers to allow them to file a counteraffidavit. Thirty days after the counteraffidavit is submitted, the preliminary investigation must be concluded.

The charge of illegal use of an alias is among the three corruption-related charges brought against Estrada.