The prosecution dropped a bombshell at the start of the Philippine President's impeachment trial yesterday, displaying a cheque for about $3 million which it said he signed to buy a mansion for a mistress.
While the embattled Mr Joseph Estrada followed the proceedings at the Senate on live television, prosecutors in opening statements accused him of running a criminal syndicate from his presidential palace and branded him a "thief" and a "crook".
About 30,000 protesters marched on the Senate building to demand the former film star's resignation, blowing trumpets from rams' horns in a reenactment of the biblical story of the crumbling of the walls of Jericho.
Inside, the prosecutor, Mr Joker Arroyo, showed the Senate impeachment court a copy of a cheque for 146 million pesos which he said was signed by Mr Estrada, albeit in a false name.
Another prosecutor accused Mr Estrada of running a criminal syndicate from the very seat of government power.
"The prosecutors will expose the existence of a criminal syndicate directed from the highest office of the land," prosecutor Mr Sergio Apostol told the court. The defence compared Mr Estrada to Julius Caesar and condemned the "lies and innuendo" which had led many to rush to judgment.
"Unlike in Julius Caesar's case, we are assured that in this forum, judgment will not flee to brutish beasts and reason will not be lost but will attend every aspect and incident of these proceedings," said the chief defence attorney, Mr Andres Narvasa.
"It is in light of these familiar norms and precepts which we are certain this honourable tribunal will uphold and apply, the respondent, the President of the Philippines, now confidently faces his accusers."
Mr Estrada is threatened with removal from office on charges of bribery, corruption, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the constitution. He has denied all the charges and has said he will be vindicated.
Mr Arroyo, prosecuting, said the cheque was used to buy a mansion for one of Mr Estrada's mistresses.
"We want you to study that cheque very closely," he said. "Examine the signature. Then look at the signature of the President on a 500 peso note. You need not be an expert . . . there are unmistakable signs that the signature on the cheque is in the handwriting of the President of the Philippines."