Sandiganbayan allows Ronnie Ricketts' trip to Japan

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has granted the request of former Optical Media Board (OMB) chairman Ronnie Ricketts to travel to Japan despite his pending graft case over the alleged release of confiscated pirated discs in 2010.

The anti-graft court’s Fourth Division allowed Ricketts to spend vacation with his family in Tokyo starting tomorrow until March 8.

The P90,000 bond that Ricketts posted for his previous travel abroad will serve as the bond for his trip, according to the anti-graft court.

In an urgent motion filed last week, Ricketts informed the court that there was an oversight in his petition since his return flight to Manila is on March 9.

He asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to stay a day longer in Tokyo. He promised to be back in the country by March 9.

Ricketts maintained that he is not a flight risk as proven by his timely return from his previous trips abroad. 

He is on trial for graft for allegedly allowing the release of 127 boxes and two sacks of pirated digital video discs, video compact discs and a video recording machine to a private firm. – Michael Punongbayan