CA Division Dismisses Lee’s Habeas Corpus Petition

A Court of Appeals (CA) division on Thursday dismissed the habeas corpus petition of alleged syndicated estafa suspect, Delfin Lee.

The CA First Division cited as basis for the dismissal a Supreme Court temporary restraining order (TRO) issued Wednesday against a November 2013 ruling of the CA that cleared Lee and lifted the issued arrest warrant against him. The decision of the appeals court came a day after the CA heard Lee’s petition and submitted it for resolution.

In his petition, Lee asserted he should not have been sent to jail because of a standing November 2013 CA ruling lifting the arrest warrant against him. The government, on the other hand, insisted the CA ruling is still being appealed before the Supreme Court.

Habeas corpus is a legal remedy that gives a person the right to seek relief from unlawful detention. It is a Constitutional guarantee that safeguards individual freedom against arbitrary government action.

Lee,founder and chairman of Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corp., is facing charges of syndicated estafa for allegedly defrauding the government of P6.6 billion in housing loan proceeds for home buyers, which investigators later found to be fictitious.

Lee, who was arrested in a Hotel in Manila Thursday last week, denied any wrongdoing in the Globe Asiatique transactions.

He is currently detained at the Pampanga provincial jail.

Source: Gma News Online

Image Credit: www.gmanetwork.com