Court rejects request to hold Estrada trial in hospital

A Philippines' court has rejected a police petition to hold ousted President Joseph Estrada's corruption trial in a military hospital due to security concerns.

Sandiganbayan Justice Francis Garchitorena says police officials failed to provide convincing proof to justify transferring the trial from the court building to the Veterans Memorial Medical Centre.

Estrada has been undergoing medical treatment and tests there.

Mr Garchitorena, however, suggested the court may still allow the transfer if the police could come up with stronger evidence of security threats.

Estrada is scheduled to be arraigned on a perjury charge stemming from allegations he misdeclared his assets in 1999.

The court has postponed arraignment on a charge of economic plunder because of pending opposition, including a move by Estrada's lawyers to dismiss the case on constitutional grounds.

Plunder is a non-bailable capital offence.

In a court petition they filed before the Sandiganbayan, police officials said Estrada's followers might try to repeat the huge street protests that culminated in a failed May 1 assault on the presidential palace that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo called an attempt to oust her.

Estrada also could be assassinated while being transferred from the hospital, where he is being treated for minor ailments, to the Sandiganbayan building about four miles away, police said.