2007年VOA标准英语-Philippine Court Sentences Former President to
时间:2019-02-07 作者:英语课 分类:2007年VOA标准英语(九月)
Manila
12 September 2007
Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada has been sentenced to life in prison for receiving bribes 1 and kickbacks 2 while in office. The sentence came after a six-year-long trial. Douglas Bakshian reports from Manila, where thousands of police and other security forces are on alert in the event of any public unrest.
Joseph Estrada looks back as he leaves the courtroom, 12 Sep 2007
The 70-year-old former movie star remained defiant 3 after the sentence was handed down by the Sandiganbayan, or anti-graft court, on Wednesday.
Estrada said he had thought justice would prevail, but instead he received what he called a "political decision" from a "kangaroo court" (a rigged proceeding).
"This is the only forum 4 that I can ventilate (express) myself and show the people my innocence," he said. "Despite that, I think the decision is already dictated 5 by those people on top. It is a political decision."
Estrada was charged with "plunder 6" for allegedly amassing 7 millions of dollars in bribes and funds from illegal gambling 8 while in office. He was convicted of that charge, but acquitted 9 of a separate charge that he falsely declared his assets.
Special prosecutor 10 Denis Villa 11 Ignacio called the verdict a victory for the judicial 12 system, and the country.
" We are happy that we were able to show that the system works," he said. "Today we were able to show that you can charge, you can prosecute 13, you can even convict an accused no matter what his rank is, or how popular he is in the country."
Outside the courthouse, several hundred Estrada supporters waved banners and gave anti-government speeches, but the gathering 14 was peaceful. Thousands of police and other security forces were on duty in Manila to guard against unrest.
Estrada, a former actor, was elected in 1998 by a huge margin 15. He was popular among the country's poor masses, who knew him from movie roles in which he played the hero of the underdog, and he still retains a measure of popularity despite the charges against him.
During his time in power, Estrada was known for late night drinking and card games in the presidential palace, behavior that undercut his popularity. He was toppled by a popular revolt in 2001 with the backing of the military.
Estrada has always denied the charges against him, and has accused President Gloria Arroyo 16, who was his vice 17 president, of engineering his ouster in a conspiracy 18 with the military and the powerful Roman Catholic Church.
Estrada will appeal his verdict to the anti-graft court, and the case is also due for automatic review by the Supreme 19 Court. Before the verdict, he said he would not accept a pardon from Mrs. Arroyo.
Estrada will not go to prison immediately. The court allowed him to return to his villa outside of Manila, where he has been under house arrest.
- It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
- corrupt officials accepting bribes 接受贿赂的贪官污吏
- Everyone at City Hall is receiving kickbacks. It's the only way to get anything done there. 市政府里的每个人都收回扣,在那里只有送红包,事情才办得成。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- G raft or kickbacks paid to officials or law enforcem ent authorities. 暗中付给官员或执法人员的回扣。 来自互联网
- With a last defiant gesture,they sang a revolutionary song as they were led away to prison.他们被带走投入监狱时,仍以最后的反抗姿态唱起了一支革命歌曲。
- He assumed a defiant attitude toward his employer.他对雇主采取挑衅的态度。
- They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
- The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。
- He dictated a letter to his secretary. 他向秘书口授信稿。
- No person of a strong character likes to be dictated to. 没有一个个性强的人愿受人使唤。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The thieves hid their plunder in the cave.贼把赃物藏在山洞里。
- Trade should not serve as a means of economic plunder.贸易不应当成为经济掠夺的手段。
- The study of taxonomy must necessarily involve the amassing of an encyclopaedic knowledge of plants. 分类学研究一定要积累广博的植物知识。 来自辞典例句
- Build your trophy room while amassing awards and accolades. 建立您的奖杯积累奖项和荣誉。 来自互联网
- They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。
- The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。
- The jury acquitted him of murder. 陪审团裁决他谋杀罪不成立。
- Five months ago she was acquitted on a shoplifting charge. 五个月前她被宣判未犯入店行窃罪。
- The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
- The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。
- We rented a villa in France for the summer holidays.我们在法国租了一幢别墅消夏。
- We are quartered in a beautiful villa.我们住在一栋漂亮的别墅里。
- He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
- Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。
- I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
- Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据?
- He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
- He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。
- We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train.我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
- The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
- She continued along the path until she came to the arroyo.她沿着小路一直走到小河边。
- They had a picnic by the arroyo.他们在干枯的河床边野餐过。
- He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
- They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。
- The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
- He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。