USA: FILIPINO LAWMAKER MARK JIMENEZ ACCUSED OF TAX EVASION AND MAKING ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO U.S. POLITICIANS CAN POST BAIL BUT MUST BE UNDER HOUSE ARREST

Record ID: 647044

  • Title: USA: FILIPINO LAWMAKER MARK JIMENEZ ACCUSED OF TAX EVASION AND MAKING ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO U.S. POLITICIANS CAN POST BAIL BUT MUST BE UNDER HOUSE ARREST
  • Date: 2nd January 2003
  • Summary: (W8) MIAMI, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 31, 2002) (REUTERS) 1. SLV EXTERIOR OF COURT HOUSE (2 SHOTS) 0.11 2. SCU COURT SKETCHES OF PHILIPPINE LAWMAKER MARK JIMENEZ (3 SHOTS) 0.25 3. LAS COURTHOUSE; SCU FLAGS OUTSIDE OF COURTHOUSE 0.32 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY MIKE SAVAGE SAYING "We are very pleased that the court gave us the opportunity to present our case, that the judge gave it thoughtful consideration. There is going to be another hearing on this matter and obviously the court was very concerned that Mr. Jimenez appear and I think made some thoughtful terms and if he does meet them, we look forward to preparing our case and going to trial." 0.52 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ATTORNEY FOR JIMENEZ, ABBE LOWELL SAYING "Judge Bendstra understood Mr. Jimenez's interest in fighting these charges through the legal system so we are pleased with today's events. And it is an extra birthday present for Mr. Jimenez whose birthday is today." 1.07 6. SCU U.S. FLAG BLOWING IN WIND 1.13 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 17th January 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MIAMI, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA59HT7ICCTYXFA4RNMUGBJEVTB
  • Story Text: A Filipino lawmaker accused of tax evasion and making
    illegal campaign contributions to U.S. politicians can post
    bail but will be under 24-hour house arrest in Florida until
    trial, a U.S. judge has ruled.

    Despite arguments from U.S. prosecutors that Mark
    Jimenez should be kept in jail because he might flee and
    "cannot be trusted," U.S. Magistrate Ted Bandstra set a series
    of conditions meant to allow the congressman to be freed but
    to keep him on a tight leash.

    Jimenez, who turned 56 on Tuesday (December 31, 2002),
    arrived in Miami on Sunday (December 29, 2002) to face charges
    that he made illegal contributions to the campaign of former
    U.S. President Bill Clinton and other Democratic politicians,
    as well as fraud, tax evasion and other offences.

    Jimenez, a member of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's
    ruling coalition, shuffled into the Miami federal courtroom
    dressed in olive prison garb, shackled at the ankles and
    handcuffed to another prisoner.

    Bandstra ordered Jimenez to post a $300,000 corporate
    surety bond backed by U.S. assets, a $200,000 bond co-signed
    by six of his relatives and said he would have to live in
    south Florida with a relative under 24-hour house arrest until
    trial.

    He also ordered Jimenez to surrender travel documents,
    told him he could leave the house only to meet with lawyers,
    could not travel outside south Florida and had to post a
    document waiving extradition rights in any other country.

    The Philippine Supreme Court paved the way for Jimenez
    to be returned to the United States with a September ruling in
    which it said the country should not be a haven for fugitives.

    Jimenez fought a government move to extradite him to face the
    U.S. charges.

    Jimenez, who was elected 17 months ago to a three-year
    congressional term, was an adviser to former president Joseph
    Estrada when the U.S. government sought his extradition in
    1999 on allegations that he used employees of two Florida
    companies to rout illegal contributions to Clinton and other
    Democrats. He has denied the charges.

    Prosecutors had asked Bandstra to order him held without
    bail, saying he had lots of money and few ties to the United
    States. They said he had repeatedly manoeuvred to avoid
    returning here to face the charges and had reneged on past
    deals to bring him here.

    "Obviously the court was very concerned that Mr.

    Jimenez appear and I think made some thoughtful terms and if
    he does meet them, we look forward to preparing our case and
    going to trial," Asst. U.S. Attorney Michael Savage said.

    Savage said the most serious charges, fraud and tax
    evasion, could result in a prison term of 121 to 151 months.

    Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell told Bandstra that Jimenez had
    deep roots in the United States, including children and
    siblings who live here. He said Jimenez' notoriety as a
    congressman dictated against his attempting to flee.

    Lowell earlier cited Philippine congressional disclosure
    forms in telling the court that Jimenez had assets of $6
    million to $8 million, including a $2.5 million home in the
    Philippines, stocks, bonds, cars and hundreds of thousands of
    dollars in cash.


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