The Court of Appeals (CA) has acquitted the so-called pork barrel queen Janet Lim Napoles of serious illegal detention case filed by scam whistleblower Benhur Luy.
The ruling says, the prosecution was unable to prove that Napoles is guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime charged.
The verdict is contained in a 38-page decision issued by the CA on May 5, 2017.
It overturns the earlier decision of the Makati Regional Trial Court.
Napoles is currently detained at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.
The CA orders the release of Napoles.
The case of serious illegal detention is the reason why Napoles is in jail.
It will be up to the Sandiganbayan, where she faces plunder and graft cases, to make a next move on Napoles' plight.
