Less than two weeks after he was convicted on corruption charges and sentenced to life imprisonment, Gloria Arroyo is reported to be considering a pardon for Joseph Estrada.

Is it any wonder that the West treats Asian judicial and political systems with contempt and derision?

Estrada was tried in the country's legal system and found to be guilty. If pardoned it means either the judicial system is corrupt, or the political system is corrupt.

The offer from Arroyo comes before Estrada has even served a single day in jail.

It's almost as laughable as the recent decision in Jakarta against Time Magazine, wherein the judges described former president Soharto as a "respected military officer with a fine record."

By finding in favour of Soharto, the court found he and his family, had not milked millions from the country's economy.

It seems to me that many Asian countries simply hold trials such as these as a show.

While many in Asia call for corrupt elements to be treated harshly, they don't have the stomach to see it through. It's also apparent that those who move in the upper levels of some Asian countries are committed to looking after their fellows should they be caught up in a scandal.

I'm interested in what message other people here think actions and decisions such as these send to potential investors?

More importantly, why should the international community, as well as the World Bank, etc, provide large grants, loans and financial aid to countries that continue to allow corruption to occur and treat those found guilty so leniently?