DAVAO CITY (September 6)— The Sandiganbayan penalized a former Koronadal City municipal trial court judge for failing to transmit nearly PhP 1- million in collected bail bonds to the Supreme Court for eight years.
Former Judge Agustin Sardido was penalized by the Sandiganbayan to pay a PHP6,000 fine.
The Sandiganbayan 7th Division, in a September 4 decision found Sardido guilty of a lesser offense for having collected various cash bail bonds posted by several accused within his jurisdiction from 1993 to 2001, but which he failed to transmit to the High Court.
Sardido was charged with malversation of public funds under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code after failing to transmit cash bail bonds from Sept. 21, 1993 to Sept. 30, 2001, amounting to PHP955,026.
Of the total amount, Sardido managed to remit only only PHP582,500.
On Aug. 24, Sardido appeared in court and pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of failure of accountable officer to render accounts.
“Wherefore, judgment is hereby rendered finding accused Agustin Sarido y Tampipi guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the lesser offense of Failure of Accountable Officer to Render Accounts defined and penalized under Article 218 of the Revised Penal Code,” the Sandiganbayan said.
“While every person criminally liable for a felony is also civilly liable, no civil liability of the offense charged shall be imposed in view of accused’s full restitution of the unliquidated amount of PHP582,500 to the Office of the Court Administrator of the Supreme Court,” it added. -Jian A. padillo/NewsLiine.ph
