By CNN Philippines, March 22 2019

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/3/22/Ex-Maguindanao-governor-Ampatuan-graft-malversation.html

Image Credit to CNN Philippines

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 22) — The anti-graft court on Friday found former Maguindanao Governor Sajid Ampatuan guilty of graft, malversation, and falsification of public documents over a fund misuse case.

The Sandiganbayan Fourth Division convicted Ampatuan for the anomalous purchase of construction materials for school building repairs in 2009.

The court sentenced him to reclusion perpetua or 40 years in prison for one count of malversation, six months to eight years for 63 counts of falsification, and eight to 12 years for one count of graft.

Ampatuan was given until Monday to post a ₱1.58-million bail for his temporary liberty while he appeals the decision.

The former Maguindanao official was charged for conspiring with other local officials in the fake purchase of construction materials for the repair of school buildings. They supposedly pocketed the money used for the materials which amounted to almost ₱38 million.

He was ordered to pay a fine equivalent to the amount misappropriated.

Ampatuan was the acting governor when the 2009 Maguindanao massacre took place. He was detained as one of the major suspects in the massacre, but was allowed to post bail in 2015 worth over ₱11 million for 58 counts of murder.

In July 2018, Ampatuan was also slapped with graft and malversation charges for supposed misuse of a ₱500-million road project fund.

Ampatuan refused to comment on his conviction.