Sandiganbayan bars Cedric Lee from leaving the country

Businessman Cedric Lee (in photo) and former Mariveles Mayor Angel Peliglorio are barred from leaving the country as they face malversation and graft over a failed implementation of a public market in Bataan. INQUIRER PHOTO

The Sandiganbayan has barred businessman Cedric Lee and a former mayor from leaving the country as they face malversation and graft over a failed implementation of a public market in Bataan.

The antigraft court third division issued a hold departure order against Lee and former Mariveles Mayor Angel Peliglorio as they stood trial for the charges.

When an accused is issued an HDO, he or she should seek approval from the court before leaving the country. The issuance of an HDO usually precedes the release of an arrest warrant until the accused posts bail.

Lee has asked the court to dismiss the case against him and withhold the arrest warrant, claiming he is only a victim of a political catfight because incumbent Mayor Jesse Concepcion refuses to implement his political rival Peliglorio’s project.

Lee has also accused Malacañang of having a hand in the charges as he faces a tax evasion case before the Department of Justice.

He is charged with malversation and graft for allegedly conniving with Peliglorio for the release of P23.47 million bank loan proceeds to Lee’s company Izumo Contractors Corp. on March 27, 2005, even without procedural safeguards, guarantee of performance, and in violation of audit rules.

The Ombudsman said Peliglorio authorized the release of the bank loans to Lee for the construction of a public market that did not commence.

This as the Department of Justice is hearing a tax evasion case filed against Lee by the Bureau of Internal Revenue for the alleged failure of Izumo Contractors to pay P194.47 million in taxes from 2006 to 2009.

Lee also faces serious illegal detention and grave coercion cases with model Deniece Cornejo at the Taguig Regional Trial Court for their alleged role in beating up and extorting money from television host and actor Vhong Navarro.