The Sandiganbayan convicted businesswoman Janet L. Napoles and former Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Undersecretary Jerry E. Pacturan over the diversion of P50 million in government funds intended for farm input assistance projects that were never implemented.
In a 237-page decision promulgated on Friday, penned by Sixth Division Chairperson Associate Justice Sarah Jane T. Fernandez, the anti-graft court found Ms. Napoles and Mr. Pacturan guilty on 10 counts of malversation through falsification of public documents over the release of P50 million to 10 non-government organizations (NGOs) controlled by Ms. Napoles.
The anti-graft court also found Ms. Napoles guilty on 10 counts of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, but acquitted Mr. Pacturan of the graft charges after ruling that the prosecution failed to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
The court ordered Ms. Napoles and Mr. Pacturan to reimburse P50 million to the National Treasury.
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