Former Philippines president Joseph Estrada, who sparked...
Former Philippines president Joseph Estrada, who sparked an uproar by ordering his entire defence team to quit his corruption trial, said he is sure of getting the death penalty and no lawyer could save him
Former Philippines president Joseph Estrada, who sparked an uproar by ordering his entire defence team to quit his corruption trial, said he is sure of getting the death penalty and no lawyer could save him.
The former movie actor, accused of illegally amassing more than four billion pesos ($78 million) during his 31 months in office, said court bias against him had convinced him he could get justice "only in the next life".
Estrada made the statement in a letter to one of seven attorneys appointed by the anti-graft court to defend him after he ordered all his nine lawyers last week to withdraw from the trial, saying the judges had already prejudged his case.
"They have taken away my office. They have taken away my dignity. And they will take my life away ... Please pray, not for me, but for our country," Estrada said.
Estrada is on trial for graft, perjury, illegal use of an alias and economic plunder, the last an offence which can carry the death penalty.
The former movie actor, accused of illegally amassing more than four billion pesos ($78 million) during his 31 months in office, said court bias against him had convinced him he could get justice "only in the next life".
Estrada made the statement in a letter to one of seven attorneys appointed by the anti-graft court to defend him after he ordered all his nine lawyers last week to withdraw from the trial, saying the judges had already prejudged his case.
"They have taken away my office. They have taken away my dignity. And they will take my life away ... Please pray, not for me, but for our country," Estrada said.
Estrada is on trial for graft, perjury, illegal use of an alias and economic plunder, the last an offence which can carry the death penalty.
— SOURCES
- (Sources: Reuters, 04/03/2002)