Lawsuit filed to seize Estrada's wealth

Estrada allegedly built luxury mansions for his mistreses

Criminal proceedings have been opened in the Philippines to seize former President Joseph Estrada's alleged unexplained fortune worth $400m.

The money has allegedly been stashed away in secret bank accounts and in mansions built for mistresses.

Estrada's ouster is not the end. There should be justice for the Filipino people

Complainant in forfeiture case

The case was filed on Wednesday by a group of 82 private citizens, the majority representing left-wing and church groups.

On Thursday, as part of their investigations into the alleged fortune, state prosecutors ordered local banks to surrender Mr Estrada's account records, having already moved to freeze them.

Mass protests helped topple Mr Estrada

Meanwhile, the self-confessed gambler who triggered the crisis by linking Mr Estrada to illegal gambling rings - Luis Singson - has been made a special consultant by the new government to help it eliminate illegal gambling.

Mr Estrada was forced from office last month amid a military-backed popular uprising following the collapse of his impeachment trial on corruption charges.

He is facing separate charges by the Philippine ombudsman for corruption, bribery and economic plunder - a crime that is punishable with the death sentence.

Luxury mansions

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez, who endorsed the case and helped prepare it, said about half the money was held in 11 banks and the rest in seven luxury mansions.

Estrada complained of the 'lynch mob mood of hatred and vengeance'

The complainants argued that Mr Estrada could not have earned the money legally because he was paid only 577,000 pesos ($12,000) annually as president and the constitution barred him from engaging in business.

"Estrada's ouster is not the end. There should be justice for the Filipino people - and that means he should be prosecuted and jailed," said complainant Rafael Mariano, chairman of the Peasant Movement of the Philippines.

Mr Estrada has denied all charges against him, including using an alias to open accounts.

Earlier this week, he asked the Supreme Court to halt the ombudsman's investigations, asserting that he was still the country's president and had absolute immunity from lawsuits.

Gambling information

Interior Secretary Jose Lina told reporters on Thursday that Mr Singson had been named an anti-gambling consultant and would receive a nominal salary of one peso (two US cents) a year.

I believe [Mr Singson] will help us completely

Jose Lina

As a consultant, Mr Singson could give the government information on those organising and operating the illegal gambling game, Mr Lina said.

Mr Singson, a provincial governor, sparked the crisis in October by revelations that Mr Estrada - a former drinking and gambling buddy - had received millions of dollars in kickbacks from gambling syndicates after taking office in 1998.