Hospital arrest OK’d for suspect

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Saturday approved hospital arrest for a suspect in the abduction of a witness in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam on the recommendation of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Reynaldo Lim, also known as Jojo Lim, and his sister Janet Napoles Lim were accused by the family of their employee, Benhur Luy, of abduction and illegal detention at the siblings’ posh Pacific Plaza Tower condominium in Taguig City since December 2012.

Luy was rescued by NBI agents on March 22 after Luy’s parents, Arturo and Gertrudes Francisco, filed a complaint with the agency.

Lim was taken in by the agents but was brought to St. Luke’s Medical Center at Bonifacio Global City after he complained of chest pains.

“The NBI medico legal officer confirmed hospital findings that Lim had an angioplasty and that his continued confinement was justified,” a source in the DOJ told the Inquirer.

Luy’s parents said Benhur was abducted by the Lims to prevent him from talking to investigators about the fertilizer fund scam.