Photo credit: PNP

The Sandiganbayan has sentenced Janet Lim Napoles to 64 years of imprisonment in connection with four cases of graft and malversation of public funds.

These charges stem from the illegal disbursement of approximately 20 million pesos from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), also known as the pork barrel, of then South Cotabato Representative Arthur Pingoy Jr.

The 57-page decision, rendered by the special second division, was reached by a close 3-2 vote. Napoles was handed a 40-year prison term for the four cases of malversation of public funds and an additional 24 years for four counts of graft.

In addition to her prison sentence, Napoles has been ordered by the Sandiganbayan to pay the government approximately 41 million pesos, equivalent to the amount of misused public funds as a result of her conviction in these cases.

Meanwhile, Pingoy, who is currently the Vice Governor of South Cotabato, was acquitted by the anti-graft court.

Napoles' lawyer, Ronnie Garay, has indicated their intent to appeal the decision.