Ex-judge, ex-clerk of court indicted over P1.07-M embezzlement

MANILA,Philippine - The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of graft  and malversation charges against a former judge and a former clerk of court in Koronadal City for embezzling P1.07 million from the court's fund for eight years.

 

In an order, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales found sufficient grounds to indict former Judge Agustin Sardido and Normandie Ines, an ex-clerk of court.

 

The charges stemmed from the financial and judicial audit conducted on the records and books of account of the Municipal Trial Court of Koronadal City wherein shortages were discovered in the Judiciary Development Fund, Clerk of Court General Fund and Fiduciary Fund.

 

During the investigation, Sardido admitted borrowing money from the funds amounting to P582,500 to pay for the education of his children and for the second-hand vehicle.

 

"Ines and Sardido conspired with each other in the embezzlement of the posted cash bonds as Fiduciary Bond from Sept. 21,1993 to Sept. 30, 2001 in the total sum of P955,026 with Ines deliberately failing to issue official receipts on the posted cash bonds in different cases in the total amount of P460,200 and Sardido willfully approving such posted cash bonds without official receipts issued," the order said. 

 

The Ombudsman noted that the "payment, reimbursement restitution or indemnification of the amount malversed will not in any way exonerate an accused since they are not among those circumstances for extinction of criminal liability."

 

The Supreme Cour has earlier dismissed Sardido from the service in a related administrative case.