Estrada asks SC to defer trial

Estrada asks SC to defer trial

MANILA (DPA): Former Philippine president Joseph Estrada asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to defer the start of his trial on a capital charge of plunder set for next week.

In a four-page petition, Estrada noted the court had yet to decide on an earlier motion questioning the legality of the plunder law due to its ambiguity. He also noted that there were still a number of unresolved motions before the Sandiganbayan antigraft court, which is scheduled to try the case on Oct. 1.

"Without meaning to be presumptuous, one could not discount the real possibility of the plunder law being ruled unconstitutional," Estrada said in the petition.

Plunder or theft of public funds in excess of US$1 million is a nonbailable offense that carries a maximum penalty of death.

Estrada, who has been in detention since April, is accused of amassing up to 4 billion pesos ($80 million) in illegal wealth during his 31-month rule.