Posted on 12/31/2002 6:22:08 PM PST by HAL9000
Magistrate in Miami grants bail to Filipino congressman
A Filipino congressman accused of tax evasion and making illegal campaign contributions to Democrats in the United States received a 56th birthday present Thursday from a federal judge who granted him bail.
Filipino Rep. Mark Jimenez, former chief executive officer of a Miami computer exporting firm, is expected to spend his birthday and a few extra days behind bars while several of his children and siblings in the U.S. arrange to post $65,000 in cash and $500,000 in assets to back his bond.
''The conditions are stiff, but they are fair and they are doable,'' said Miami defense attorney Ben Kuehne.
U.S. Justice Department prosecutors had been seeking to hold Jimenez without bond until his trial.
But Magistrate Judge Ted E. Bandstra ruled that Jimenez can be released if the family members post the $300,000 corporate surety and $200,000 personal surety bonds. The judge is also requiring Jimenez to remain under 24-hour house arrest and electronic surveillance at a family member's home in the Miami area.
His travel is restricted to South Florida -- even though his lead defense attorney is based in Washington. He must surrender all travel documents and sign papers voluntarily waiving extradition from anywhere on Earth.
Jimenez strenuously fought his extradition from the Philippines and only gave up the fight after a Manila court threatened to jail him if he didn't surrender to the U.S. authorities and return to the U.S. to face the charges.
The U.S. government accuses Jimenez of using corporate money to reimburse employees for illegal donations to President Clinton and other candidates. Donors were employees of Future Tech International Inc., a Miami computer parts distribution business owned by Jimenez, and Mark Vision Computer, another Miami company owned by a relative.
The indictment also charged Jimenez with corporate fraud and tax evasion linked to personal business dealings unrelated to the fund-raising allegations. He is accused of defrauding the IRS by taking business deductions for personal expenses and political contributions made with money from Future Tech.
Filipino congressmen Prospero Pichay and Willie Villarama and a representative from the Filipino embassy in Washington traveled to Miami to lend moral support in the case.
Pichay, who chairs several committees on which Jimenez is a member, praised the American justice system after Tuesday's hearing.
''Your judge here found a way to give him bail. He couldn't get bail in the Phillipines,'' Pichay said.
After several years as a fugitive and facing life in prison, Mark Jimenez is a proven flight risk who should be kept locked up pending his trial.
The latest news is that a former president of the Philippines is accusing Jimenez of offering a $14 million bribe.
Translation: "suckers!"
Roger that. But he is a clinton buddie. That should get him a free pass.
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