THE Sandiganbayan has denied the motion to travel of former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority chief Augusto Syjuco Jr.’s co-accused for “misleading” the anti-graft court.
The anti-graft court’s Seventh Division, in a minute resolution dated April 2, ordered former Tesda Bids and Awards Committee member Ernesto Beltran to explain in five days why he should not be held in contempt when he misled the court that he was jobless.
The anti-graft court division said Beltran sought its approval to travel to the United States from April 7 to May 1 for a business trip to retain his consultancy post at Hytec Power Inc.
He said he would also travel to Kentucky, Indiana and California for “business.”
But Beltran failed to convince the Sandiganbayan.
“[Beltran is a] retired from government service with no other source of income or livelihood accused mostly rely on the generosity of their children for support and daily sustenance,” the Sandiganbayan said.
“The court cannot reconcile accused Beltran’s previous representation that he is jobless with his present claim that he intends to go on a business trip to maintain his consultancy position with Hytec Power Inc.,” the anti-graft court added.
“Additionally, accused Beltran is directed to show cause within five days from notice why he should not be cited in contempt of court for deliberately misleading the court to grant his motion for reduction of bail by failing to disclose the consultancy position with Hytec Power Inc.,” it said.
Beltran is a co-accused of Syjuco in his graft case in connection with a P30-million Tesda computerization project in 2007.