The alleged pork barrel mastermind will be serving a life sentence behind bars.
The 26-page decision was made by the Makati Regional Trial Court, where Judge Elmo Alameda sentenced Janet Lim-Napoles to reclusion perpetua, or a jail term up to 40 years, according to a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
The judge also signed a commitment order transferring Napoles from her detention cell at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, to the Women’s Correctional in Mandaluyong City.
According to the report, in the decision, Judge Alameda stated that the prosecution was able to establish that Benhur Luy was illegally detained for three months.
Benhur Luy previously accused Napoles and her brother, Reynaldo “Jojo” Lim of illegally detaining him from December 19, 2012 to March 22, 2013, after they found out that Luy was involved in separate business transactions involving the alleged Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). According to the court, Napoles detained Benhur so he would not be able to disclose information about the alleged scam.
Napoles, on the other hand, claimed that Benhur Luy went on a spiritual retreat during the three-month period, according to the report.
Napoles’ brother, Jojo Lim, still remains at large.
In addition to the life sentence, the court also ordered Napoles to pay Benhur Luy P100,000 in moral and civil damages.
Janet Lim Napoles is appealing the commitment order for her detention cell transfer, and is asking to remain in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.
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