Conditional arraignment for Jaime Dichaves

Businessman Jaime Dichaves may have to be conditionally arraigned in his plunder case if he wants to leave the country, according to a Sandiganbayan official.

Dichaves is a coaccused in former President Joseph Estrada’s plunder case but has denied conniving with the deposed chief executive to amass ill-gotten wealth.

A hold departure order has been issued against the businessman, who has a pending motion asking the court to allow him to travel to Hong Kong and China later this month.

He has not been arraigned on the plunder case filed earlier against him after the Sandiganbayan Special Division ordered the Office of the Ombudsman to first complete its preliminary investigation of the case.

The court had also quashed his arrest warrant, although it has not lifted the hold departure order against him.

Sandiganbayan legal division chief Mary Ruth Ferrer said that if Dichaves wants to leave the country temporarily, the court may subject him to conditional arraignment. In the event that he fails to return and probable cause is found against him, the court could proceed with his case in absentia.

In case he is cleared of plunder in the Ombudsman’s preliminary investigation, Dichaves’ arraignment would become moot, Ferrer said.

Dichaves’ motion for permission to travel is scheduled to be heard Friday at the Sandiganbayan.

Estrada earlier said that the Jose Velarde bank account, which was identified as his, was actually Dichaves’ account.  Leila B. Salaverria