Cedric denies P194-M tax raps

MANILA, Philippines - Detained businessman Cedric Lee denied before the Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday the P194.47-million tax evasion charges filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) last March.

The handcuffed Lee attended the preliminary investigation before investigating Assistant State Prosecutor Stewart Allan Mariano and submitted a counter-affidavit.

The BIR accused Lee’s firm, Izumo Contractors Inc., of not paying the correct taxes from 2006 to 2009, based on certifications from the company’s clients.

Lee said he had no part in preparing the income tax returns of Izumo and blamed his chief accountant, Susan Nace, for failing to verify the actual revenue of his firm.

Lee’s estranged wife, Judy – a co-respondent in the BIR complaint – also submitted her counter-affidavit before the DOJ. Judy said she has been separated from her husband since 2005 and that she never had any financial transactions involving Izumo.

“I did not even know how I became the (chief financial officer) of Izumo. I understand that the CFO is elected by the board of directors but I have not attended any board meeting and I did not accept any such position as CFO,” Judy said.

Izumo’s chief operating officer John Ong and finance officer Judy Gutierrez Lee, also respondents in the complaint, failed to appear in yesterday’s hearing.