DAVAO CITY (August 3)- The US federal grand jury indictment against Janet Lim-Napoles has strengthened the government’s case before the Sandiganbayan, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
In a statement, Roque said that the charge of money laundering against Napoles and her co-defendants shows there are reasons to “believe they attempted to retain the ill-gotten gains from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.”
In the charge sheet, the federal grand jury accused Napoles and other defendants of fraudulently converting money from the multibillion-peso Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
The testimony shows that the PDAF involves the funding of ghost projects of participating lawmakers and channeled through Napoles and non government organizations, as recipient of the PDAF funds.
The jury indicated that approximately $20 million of the funds were diverted and wired to Southern California bank accounts where the money was used to finance the living expenses of the accused, as well as the purchase of real estate, two Porsche Boxsters and invested in shares in two businesses.
Napoles and her five family members — children Jo Christine, James Christopher and Jeane; and her brother Reynald Lim and his wife Ana , were charged by the US Department of Justice with money laundering and conspiracy.
Roque said the government will ensure that the PDAF funds will be returned to the public. “As more of Mrs. Napoles’ schemes come to light, it becomes imperative to charge all those who illegal profited from her transactions, regardless of their position or political affiliation,” Roque added. ezc/NewsLine
