MANILA, Philippines - Convicted pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles, alongside three others, has been found guilty by the Sandiganbayan over the utilization of the pork barrel funds of former Davao del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas 4th'.

In a per curiam decision of the anti-graft court's special third division promulgated on Friday, Napoles was found guilty on two counts for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and two counts of Malversation of Public Funds under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code.

Napoles was sentenced to a maximum of 55 years in prison and a fine of P7.55 million, equivalent to the amount that was released by Cagas and was diverted to fictitious projects to her foundations.

She was also ordered to indemnify the Philippine government the amount of P4.85 million, with legal interest of six percent per year from the finality of the Decision until full payment.

The others who were also convicted were former Technology Resources Center deputy director Dennis Cunanan, former TRC group manager Maria Rosalida Lacsamana and Rhodora Mendoza, former director for financial management services of the National Agribusiness Corporation.

All three were found guilty on one count for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and one count of Malversation of Public Funds under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code.

The court found that the PDAF funds of Cagas were released and diverted to fictitious projects under Napoles' foundations, the People's Organization for Progress and Development Foundation, Inc. (POPDFI) and the Social Development Program for Farmers Foundation, Inc. (SDPFFI), causing injury to the government and giving benefits to her foundations.

Napoles guilty in another 'pork barrel' case, sentenced to 55 years in jail

Meanwhile, 10 other officials were acquitted for failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt, while eight individuals remain at large.

Cagas, meanwhile, had been found guilty of a lesser offense through a plea bargaining agreement and was sentenced with corresponding fines and an indeterminate penalty leading to probation., This news data comes from:http://771bg.com