Deceit is not an essential requisite of estafa with abuse of confidence, SC Clarifies
Deceit is not an essential requisite of estafa with abuse of confidence, since the breach of confidence takes the place of the fraud or deceit.
Elements of Estafa with abuse of confidence.—The elements of estafa with abuse of confidence are as follows: (a) that money, goods or other personal property is received by the offender in trust, or on commission, or for administration, or under any other obligation involving the duty to make delivery of, or to return the same; (b) that there be misappropriation or conversion of such money or property by the offender or denial on his part of such receipt; (c) that such misappropriation or conversion or denial is to the prejudice of another; and (d) that there is a demand made by the offended party on the offender.
It is well-settled that when the money, goods, or any other personal property is received by the offender from the offended party in trust or on commission or for administration, the offender acquires both material or physical possession and juridical possession of the thing received. Juridical possession means a possession which gives the transferee a right over the thing which the transferee may set up even against the owner.
Misappropriation or conversion may be proved by the prosecution by direct evidence or by circumstantial evidence. The failure to account upon demand for funds or property held in trust is circumstantial evidence of misappropriation.
Diaz vs. People, 563 SCRA 322, G.R. No. 171121 August 26, 2008
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