Friday, February 10, 2006
Court orders arrest of dermatologist over tax case
AN ARREST warrant was issued by the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) against renowned cosmetic surgeon Dr. Joel Mendez in connection with his P3.4 million tax evasion and perjury case filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) last October.
In a one-page resolution, the CTA Second Division in Quezon City said probable cause for the issuance of an arrest warrant exists against Mendez, whose clientele includes showbiz personalities and other celebrities.
"Upon careful perusal of the information filed in the case, the documents appended thereto and the additional documents submitted, the court, after due deliberation, finds the existence of probable cause for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the accused," said CTA Associate Justice Juanito Castaneda Jr.
The case was filed against Mendez after the DOJ junked his motion for reconsideration seeking the dismissal of the case for failure of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to accord him due process.
State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera, who is handling the tax evasion case against Mendez, said the motion for reconsideration submitted by Mendez was "devoid of merit."
"Respondent Mendez' arguments are mainly anchored on the assessment of his tax liabilities. His contention that there was no proper investigation conducted by the BIR due to its failure to issue subpoena is erroneous," Navera said.
In filing the case before the CTA, Navera upheld the findings of the BIR that Mendez has been earning from the operations of his Weigh Less Center and Spa with numerous branches in the country even prior to its registration with the BIR and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in 2003.
The prosecution panel dismissed the defense of Mendez that he could not include his other branches in his 2001 and 2002 income tax returns since those clinics were still inexistent.
Navera said it was established by the panel that Mendez made a false declaration of his income tax return for taxable year 2003 which made him liable for perjury. (ECV/Sunnex)
(February 10, 2006 issue)
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