Estrada to stay in hospital for trial

Estrada to stay in hospital for trial

MANILA (AFP): Deposed Philippines president Joseph Estrada on Wednesday won a court order allowing him to remain in hospital instead of a prison home for the duration of his corruption trial.

Sandiganbayan anti-graft court judge Anacleto Badoy said in a terse ruling that police should "allow the former president to remain at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center until further orders from the court."

The court had earlier rejected a plea by Estrada, a 64-year- old former movie star, to be placed under house arrest.

Toppled in a bloodless popular revolt on Jan. 20, Estrada was arrested on April 25 on charges of plundering $80 million during his 30 months in office.

He is to go on trial on June 27 and could face the death penalty if convicted -- although President Gloria Arroyo is not seen likely to allow the execution of a former president and could commute any such sentence.