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.