Posted on 12/14/2005 3:10:24 AM PST by HAL9000
Mark Jimenez released from US Federal prison
Former Manila congressman Mark Jimenez has been released from a federal prison in Pennsylvania in the United States, ABS-CBN North America Bureau reported Wednesday.
Public information officer Mike Furman confirmed that Jimenez was released by the Federal Correctional Institution in Allenwood, Pennsylvania on December 13, 8 a.m. (9 p.m. in Manila).
Jimenez (also known as Mario Crespo) was immediately turned over to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), an agency under the Department of Homeland Security.
He said Jimenez is now "a detainee in the custody of ICE."
The ICE media office in Washington DC has yet to reveal details of removal proceedings for Jimenez.
Lawyer Ric Diaz of the National Bureau of Investigation's Interpol division earlier said Jimenez will arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 aboard Northwest Airlines flight 1891 on December 17, 10:50 p.m. The flight leaves Harrisburg, Virginia on December 16.
Diaz said the US Embassy in Manila confirmed Jimenez's arrival through a faxed statement. The statement, in turn, is based on information from the Department of Homeland Security in the US.
Diaz, chief of NBI-Interpol, said Jimenez will have no security escorts upon arrival. He said that Jimenez's criminal offense in the US is considered as a "white collar" case and would not require armed escorts upon deportation.
Jimenez, a former member of the 12th Congress, was extradited to the US last Dec. 26, 2002, on charges of tax evasion and conspiracy to defraud the US and commit election-financing offenses.
He was subsequently tried in court and imprisoned at a federal penitentiary for illegally contributing millions of dollars to the presidential campaign of then US President Bill Clinton. A US Federal Court sentenced him to 27 months of imprisonment and was ordered to pay the US government $1.2-million restitution.
Jimenez earlier accused former justice secretary Hernani Perez of extortion. He said the former justice chief allegedly demanded $2 million from him in exchange for the approval of a contract with the Argentine firm IMPSA.
The IMPSA deal was approved by the Arroyo administration two days after President Arroyo was installed to power in January 2001.
The former Manila congressman also claimed he gave P8 million to the Lualhati Foundation of Mrs. Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo. Both have denied the allegations.
Gee. Wonder if Bubba returned the money? HAHAHAHAHAHA
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