JEANE Catherine Napoles, daughter of pork barrel scam principal accused Janet Lim Napoles, asked the Court of Tax Appeals to lift the arrest warrant issued against her and reinstate the bail bond for her temporary liberty.
In her urgent motion submitted to the Tax Court Third Division, the young Napoles through her counsel, said her absence during her arraignment “was not because of any intent to disrespect or disobey the directives, notices and procedures of the Honorable Court but solely because of the advice of her counsel who believed that her presence was not needed considering that there are still pending incidents for the resolution of the Honorable Court.”
Napoles is facing two counts of tax evasion before the Tax Court.
She is required to appear before the tax court for her arraignment.
An arraignment is the reading of criminal case against an accused. It is important because it intends to protect the accused as he or she would be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation against him or her. It will also allow the court to proceed with the trial in case the accused absconds.
But Napoles failed to appear prompting the Tax Court to order her arrest.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to track her down.
“Accused Napoles begs for the indulgence and mercy of this Honorable Court for the lifting of the bench warrant of arrest against her and reinstatement of the bond that was forfeited,” the motion stated.
The court rescheduled her arraignment for May 27. AC