The United States Department of Justice indicted pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles, her children Jo Christine, James Christopher and Jeane, brother Reynald Lim and his wife Ana for money laundering and conspiracy with all facing extradition to the US to face the charges.

Federal prosecutors said Napoles and five of her family members have been indicted for conspiring to funnel into the US Philippine public funds obtained through an intricate bribery and fraud scheme.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the Department of Justice (DoJ) has coordinated with its counterpart in the US regarding the charges against Napoles and her family members who allegedly conspired to illegally transmit government funds worth $20 million to the United States.

“We have been quietly working together with the US (Department) of Justice regarding the conspiracy to commit money laundering cases. We welcome this development, as it paves the way for the return of the people’s money to our national treasury,” Guevarra said.

American prosecutors said the money was used to purchase assets in the US, including property and luxury vehicles.

Guevarra, however, stressed that the cases against Napoles in the Philippines would have to be settled first before she can be extradited to the US.

“Although we cannot extradite Napoles until her cases in Philippine courts have been terminated, the DoJ will extend all assistance to its US counterpart in prosecuting the money laundering cases and in ensuring the people’s money is returned in due time to our national treasury,” he added.

“Yes. I think some of them are actually in the US and may get arrested,” Guevarra said, referring to the relatives of Napoles who are not facing any charges in the Philippines.

Napoles is currently detained at a detention facility at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City after a legal intervention of Solicitor General Jose Calida paved the way for her acquittal by the Court of Appeals in May last year.

She spent only two years at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City following a guilty verdict meted out to her by a Makati City judge for the serious illegal detention of her cousin Benhur Luy, the primary whistle-blower in the scam.

Napoles had previously filed several petitions before the Supreme Court seeking to stop her indictment in the Priority Development Assistance Fund cases but these were all dismissed.

The public funds were allegedly diverted to money remittance firms in the Philippines and wired to Southern California bank accounts where the money was used to purchase real estate, shares in two businesses, two Porsche Boxsters and finance the expenses of family members living in the US.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel O’Brien, deputy chief of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section.

The filing of cases against Napoles and her children and relatives was related to the P10-billion pork barrel fund scam that also involved lawmakers and officials of implementing agencies to the non-existent livelihood projects.

The funds for the bogus projects were funnelled to foundations that were closely identified with Napoles.