SC OKs trial of Napoles at Sandigan

Janet Lim-Napoles. FILE PHOTO

The Supreme Court has allowed the Sandiganbayan to proceed with the bail hearings and plunder trial of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles at its sala in Quezon City.

The ruling granted the request of Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotage-Tang “for the accused Janet Lim-Napoles to be brought to the Sandiganbayan, as may be necessary and upon appropriate process issued, for hearings on her application for bail in various cases pending before the SB where Napoles is charged with plunder,” said high court spokesperson Theodore Te in a statement.

The high court’s decision issued in a special en banc session yesterday is an exception to the usual arrangement, where cases against accused who are imprisoned for earlier convictions are heard in correctional facilities instead of courts.

Napoles is now detained at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City following her conviction last week for serious illegal detention of whistleblower Benhur Luy, her cousin and former employee. Tarra Quismundo