COURT FINDS JANET NAPOLES GUILTY OF ILLEGAL DETENTION

After a year of closely watching the outcome of what Anonymous revealed via this blog and other social sites, we score a win against the menace called Janet Lim Napoles. This is the sort of news that Filipinos wish to read on a daily basis.

 

Makati Trial Court Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda sentenced Janet Lim Napoles to twenty years and a day up to 40 days in prison, or reclusion perpetua, for the illegal detention of Benhur Luy from December 19, 2012 to March 22, 2013. Napoles was also ordered to pay Luy the amount of P50,000 in moral damages and P50,000 in civil damages. 

Alameda said in his decision that the prosecution was able to establish that Luy was illegally detained for three months. The judge said Napoles did not testify but only submitted a memorandum arguing that the only evidence or act where the prosecution established her participation in the crime was when she uttered “ikulong na yan, ikulong na yan (Detain him, detain him)” last Dec. 19, 2012.

“The discourse of Janet in her memorandum cannot be given any evidentiary value because she did not testify. Her arguments were not established by direct testimony. Her failure to testify prevented the prosecution from examining her to test her credibility,” Alameda added.

The judge also said that while Luy was in detention, Napoles had “ample opportunity” to order his release but she never did.

“Clearly, she willingly agreed to be part of the conspiracy with her brother Jojo. Her inaction can be construed as assent to their evil deeds,” the decision further read.

Luy is now the key witness in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam allegedly masterminded by Napoles.

Napoles, who earlier refused to enter a plea regarding the serious detention charges against her, is now detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. The court ordered her transfer to the Women's Correctional facility in Mandaluyong City.

Source: newsinfo.inquirer.net