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Estrada gets life for corruption Estrada gets life for corruption
(about 3 hours later)
Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada has been found guilty of corruption and jailed for life.Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada has been found guilty of corruption and jailed for life.
The former film star was accused of embezzling about $80m (£42m) before he was forced from office by street protests in 2001. The former film star was accused of embezzling about $80m (£42m) before he was forced from office in an army-backed revolt in 2001.
Estrada was also ordered to forfeit a mansion and more than $15.5m. He will serve out the sentence under house arrest on his country estate. Estrada denounced the verdict as a "political move" and said he had been tried in a "kangaroo court".
He described the verdict as a political decision by a kangaroo court. Security was high in the capital Manila but fears that the verdict would spark mass protests appeared to be unfounded.
Estrada was found not guilty of a separate charge of perjury. A few hundred pro-Estrada demonstrators had gathered for the verdict, but the protests were reported to be low-key and peaceful.
His son Jinggoy was acquitted of the charge of plunder. Appeal expected
'Sad episode' Following a six-year trial, the special anti-corruption court ruled that Estrada was guilty of plunder.
There was tight security in the Philippine capital, Manila, as Estrada's supporters were kept several blocks away from the courthouse. He had been accused of receiving around four billion pesos ($85m) from illegal gambling, tax kickbacks and bribes while in power.
I thought the role of justice would prevail here but really it's a kangaroo court Joseph Estrada Profile: Joseph Estrada ESTRADA ON TRIAL May 1998: Joseph Estrada is elected president by the Philippines' biggest ever marginNov 2000: Senate opens impeachment trial of presidentJan 16 2001:Trial collapsesJan 20 2001: Estrada quits and flees amid huge protests Oct 2001: Estrada goes on trial for plundering state fundsSeptember 2007: Found guilty of plunder and given a life sentence Profile: Joseph Estrada
A spokesman for President Gloria Arroyo called for calm. He was found not guilty of a separate charge of perjury. His son Jinggoy was acquitted of the charge of plunder.
"We hope and pray that the rule of law will prevail," Ignacio Bunye said, quoted by AP. Estrada was ordered to remain under house arrest on his country estate "until further orders". He is expected to appeal.
"Meantime, we have a country to run, an economy to grow and a peace to win. We hope that this sad episode in our history will not permanently distract us from this goal." After hearing the verdict, the former president hugged his family and walked from court surrounded by family and well-wishers.
Estrada denies the allegations, accusing Mrs Arroyo and Church leaders of conspiring against him, and has said he will appeal if found guilty. "This is the only forum where I could tell the Filipino people my innocence," he told reporters.
"I thought the role of justice would prevail here but really it's a kangaroo court," he said after the verdict was announced. "That's why I took a gamble. I thought the rule of law will prevail over here. This is really a kangaroo court. This is a political decision."
Analysts say that the fact that Estrada will be spending more time behind bars is likely to anger the urban poor who make up the bulk of his support. Corruption allegations
Divisive figure A successful movie star with populist appeal, Joseph Estrada was elected president in 1998 by the biggest margin ever.
The trial began soon after Estrada was ousted from power in 2001, amid violent street protests. He was seen as a refreshing change from the wealthy elite that had previously dominated political life.
Thousands of police are in the capital in case of protests Pro-Estrada protests are being held but are said to be peaceful
The former movie star still has mass popular appeal, and over the years the court proceedings have attracted plenty of media attention. But it was not long before his presidency ran into trouble amid allegations of corruption.
"I have been imprisoned for six years, four months and 17 days but because of your prayers, help and love, I have endured all these," he said on Tuesday, in a taped message smuggled out of his home, where he is under house arrest. He was accused of making crucial policy decisions with late-night drinking buddies at the presidential palace, and he admitted fathering a number of children by different mistresses.
He said he believed the public was already convinced of his innocence, adding: "Whatever the Sandiganbayan (corruption court) will decide, I am ready because I know my countrymen have acquitted me." One former gambling partner claimed he had delivered briefcases containing millions of dollars of cash bribes to the president's office.
He was ousted three years after coming to power in a revolt backed by the army and the church. His vice-president Gloria Arroyo took over.
His removal led to mass street protests in which four people died and more than 100 were arrested.
Mr Estrada has always denied the allegations, and accused Mrs Arroyo and church leaders of conspiring against him.
The government, clearly worried about the prospect of protests from Estrada's supporters in the wake of the verdict, made sure there was a high police presence around key buildings in Manila on Wednesday.
Mr Arroyo's spokesman Ignacio Bunye appealed for calm.
"We have a country to run, an economy to grow and a peace to win. We hope that this sad episode in our history will not permanently distract us from this goal," he told the Associated Press.