MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Justice (DOJ) approved the filing of tax evasion charges against the daughter of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.
In a phone interview with Rappler on Thursday, September 11, prosecutor-general Claro Arellano said the justice department found probable cause to indict Jeane Napoles for her tax liabilities.
Jeane will be charged before the Court of Tax Appeals with two counts of attempt to evade tax and two counts of failure to file an income tax return for over P17.88 million (about $407,194) in unpaid taxes.
While her whereabouts are unknown, Jeane's counter-affidavit dated January 24, 2014, was sworn to in London.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed the complaint before the DOJ against Jeane on October 13, 2013. (READ: Jeane Napoles charged with tax evasion)
Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edna Valenzuela said the DOJ approved a P17-million tax evasion case – instead of a P32-million tax case as indicated in the original BIR complaint – based on Jeane's "basic tax liability."
The amount was based on Jeane's ownership of a luxurious apartment in Los Angeles, California, worth P54.73 million (about $1.2 million) and co-ownership of two farm lots in Pangasinan worth P1.49 million (about $35,000).