MANILA – Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles could not yet be extradited to the United States to face her money laundering case, Sandiganbayan said.
Napoles still has to face her pending cases here in the country, specifically at Sandiganbayan, according to court Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang.
Tang said all of the proceedings of Napoles’ cases in relation to the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam must be finished first before she goes to US.
“The rule in our jurisdiction is that once a court acquires jurisdiction over a case, it continues to do so until the termination of the case,” stressed Tang. “This includes jurisdiction over the person of the accused in a criminal case.”
Tang added that Napoles – currently detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City – must always be available anytime the Sandiganbayan needs her for her pending three plunder cases and numerous graft cases.
“Part of the exercise of that jurisdiction is the power of the court to ensure that the accused shall, at all times, be within its reach to maintain its effective jurisdiction over the same accused,” Tang said.
Napoles and some of her family members were indicted by a US federal grand jury on Tuesday for conspiracy in committing domestic and international money laundering by diverting some $20 million to Southern California bank accounts.
The laundered money was used to purchase real estate, shares in two businesses and two Porsche Boxsters, and finance the living expenses of Napoles’ three family members in the US./PN
