Sandiganbayan convicts Sajid Ampatuan of graft over ghost projects, orders his arrest

The Sandiganbayan has ordered the arrest of former Maguindanao governor Sajid Ampatuan after he was found guilty of multiple counts of graft, malversation and falsification of public documents over bogus school projects in 2009 worth P72 million.

The antigraft court's Sixth Division ordered authorities to take custody of Ampatuan and his co-accused Datu Ali Abpi after both failed to be physically present during Thursday’s promulgation.

Ampatuan, through his counsel Glenn Michael Nuestro, submitted a medical certificate saying he is suffering from gastroenteritis and swollen knees due to gout.

The Sandiganbayan, however, said such illness is not enough to miss the promulgation.

“The court finds the reason put forward by the accused not justifiable. The doctor did not say that he cannot travel, or that when he travels, it would be detrimental to his health,” Sandiganbayan Sixth Division chairperson and Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez said.

“Being absent in the promulgation has consequences,” Fernandez added.

what the court said that 17 to 18 years for each out of malversation, at least six years for each count of graft and at least six years for each count of falsification

Ampatuan was found guilty of four counts of graft with a jail sentence of six to 10 years for each count; malversation of public funds with 17 to 18 years jail time; and 126 counts of falsification of public documents which carry a sentence of six to seven years for each count.

The conviction carried penalties and perpetual disqualification from public office.

For his malversation charges, the Sandiganbayan also ordered him to pay back P62 million representing the amount of public funds malversed.

“The accused Ampatuan can avail of the other remedies, provided that he surrenders to the court and provides justifiable reason for his absence,” Fernandez said.

The P72 million bogus school project involved the accused scheming to make it appear that public funds were used to purchase construction and lumber materials for school building repair.

The suppliers for these purchases, however, were non-existent.—LDF, GMA Integrated News