Much-beloved, much-hated, former film star, former President Joseph Ejercito "Erap" Estrada was convicted Tuesday (or is that Monday in the Philippines? Wednesday?) of plunder and sentenced to "reclusion perpetua" or, as you American convicts know it, life in prison.
From ABS-CBN Interactive:
The Sandiganbayan Special Division on Wednesday found former president Joseph Estrada guilty beyond reasonable doubt for the crime of plunder but acquitted him for the lesser crime of perjury.
Winding up a six-year trial that the 70-year-old had repeatedly insisted was politically motivated, the anti-graft court ruled that Estrada was guilty of plundering billions of pesos in tobacco excise tax kickbacks and bribes and sentenced him to reclusion perpetua.
"Accordingly accused former president Joseph Estrada is hereby sentenced to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua and accessory penalties of civil interdiction during the period of sentence and perpetual absolute disqualification," the decision read.
He probably (sadly) won't be joining these Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center inmates in their fabulous interpretation of Michael Jackson's Thriller:
CPDRC Inmates Perform Michael Jackson's Thriller
Erap in happier days
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