2 years for MJ

MIAMI, Florida — Manila congressman Mark Jimenez, who became a figure in corruption scandals in the United States and the Philippines, was sentenced yesterday to more than two years in prison for federal election fraud.

Jimenez, who pleaded guilty to election conspiracy and tax evasion charges, was also ordered to pay $1.2 million in restitution Thursday.

Federal prosecutors said Jimenez made about $41,500 in illegal contributions and caused false information to be submitted to the Federal Election Commission. US law forbids foreigners from making contributions to election campaigns.

The 56-year-old Jimenez said he hoped his guilty plea would serve as "a moral lesson in my country" where political corruption is frequently alleged but rarely admitted.

In an interview with GMA-7’s "Frontpage" news program last night, Jimenez said he was expecting his conviction by the Miami court. "I admit my sins and I will pay for them," he said in Filipino.

He also thanked the US justice system. As part of a plea-bargaining agreement with the US Department of Justice, he will be detained in a camp complete with facilities but without a security fence.

"It wasn’t a capital offense, I did not kill anyone," he said in defending his detention in a camp.

Jimenez’s lawyer Ed Escueta, meanwhile, issued a statement saying Jimenez "is not going to jail" but will instead be sent on Jan. 6 next year to a federal facility either in Eglan or Coleman, both located in Florida, which has amenities such as tennis courts.

"If Congressman Jimenez pleaded guilty, it’s for an offense involving the giving of money for a cause he believes in, and not for taking money as some in the Philippines are accused of," Escueta said.

Jimenez was a confidante of deposed President Joseph Estrada. He was formerly appointed presidential adviser for Latin American affairs by Estrada, who was ousted in a military-backed popular revolt in January 2001 and placed on trial for allegedly plundering the national treasury.

Jimenez, once described as the richest member of the House of Representatives, became the subject of an extradition treaty with the US.

Jimenez left for the US on Dec. 26 last year to face charges of tax evasion, mail fraud and illegal campaign contributions before a federal court in Florida.

Jimenez walked out of a federal prison after posting the $500,000 bond required by Miami Judge Ted Banostra.

Jimenez had admitted using money from his Miami company and a closely related company to reimburse employees for illegal donations to then US President Bill Clinton and other Democrats.

He moved back to the Philippines after Clinton was caught up in a series of fund-raising scandals.

The former Manila lawmaker also admitted using an Uruguayan company to funnel a tax-free $5 million out of the United States.

Jimenez’s defense lawyer, David Markus, told the court that the former Manila lawmaker already has been debriefed by the government on claims that his former corporate tax attorney Mitchell Fuerst committed misconduct by coordinating the tax evasion.

A call for comment to Fuerst’s office was not immediately returned.

Markus said Jimenez has been falsely called one of the richest men in the world. Jimenez estimated his net worth at $2.5 million before learning last month about a $16 million bankruptcy court judgment against him for the collapse of one of his companies.

Markus also challenged a probation report that he said falsely implied Jimenez was involved in the corruption that forced Estrada from office in 2001.

The defense also unsuccessfully tried to remove a reference to a Philippine investigation into vote-buying allegations, which resulted in no charges. The report said 17 people were arrested for offering coupons to be redeemed by Jimenez voters for cash.

US election regulators last year broadened a ban on campaign donations by foreigners in response to 1997 hearings into Democratic and Republican fund raising.

The Federal Election Commission imposed a record $719,000 in fines in a case involving Democrats accused of soliciting illegal contributions from foreigners for the 1996 election in exchange for meetings with Clinton and Vice President Al Gore.

Jimenez’s scheme covered contributions to Clinton, US Senators Edward Kennedy and Robert Torricelli, US Senate candidates Roger Bedford in Alabama and Thomas Strickland in Colorado, and US House candidate Ann Henry in Arkansas from 1994 to 1996.

Removed From The Roster

In Manila, President Arroyo refused to comment yesterday on the conviction of Jimenez.

"I would not react to that because the process is not yet over. There’s still a period for appeal and it’s an American court. So I really rather not make any reaction at this time," Mrs. Arroyo said.

The President literally kept her distance from the case of Jimenez, who earlier accused the First Couple of having received from him campaign contribution that went to their family-owned Lualhati Foundation.

The conviction of Jimenez came after the Arroyo administration facilitated his extradition to the US last year.

For his part, Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. said Jimenez will now be officially removed from the House roster following his conviction by the Miami court.

De Venecia said the House Secretary General will make the formal verification to formalize the removal of Jimenez from the roster of congressmen.

Jimenez, whose real name is Mario Crespo, was elected as representative of Manila’s sixth congressional district in 2001 but later declared by the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) last March as "unfit" to sit as Manila congressman since he had failed to establish the required one-year residency for candidates.

His lawyers led by Escueta have appealed the ruling before the Supreme Court which has yet to hand down the decision.

He claimed Jimenez told him over the phone that he wishes to continue serving his constituents in Manila "and the entire Filipino people if called upon," after completing his jail term.

Escueta claimed Jimenez was not considered a "flight risk" in the US and would be allowed to return home to celebrate Christmas and New Year with his family here and his birthday on Dec. 31. — AP, Marichu Villanueva, Paolo Romero, Ann Corvera