Alton C. Bingham - Page 7

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          testify except the special agent who criminally investigated the            
          case and the revenue agent who examined petitioner's 1984 return.           
          Petitioner did not testify or call any witnesses to testify.                
                                    II.  OPINION                                      
          A.   Procedural Issues                                                      
               1.   Petitioner's Continuance Request                                  
               One month before the trial in this case, petitioner                    
          requested a continuance to amend his petition to assert that the            
          time to assess tax for 1984 had expired.  Petitioner did not move           
          to amend his petition or lodge an amended petition.  We denied              
          petitioner's motion because he did not need a continuance to                
          raise the statute of limitations issue.  As a result of our                 
          finding of fraud (see paragraph II-C, below), the statute of                
          limitations does not bar assessment of the deficiency for 1984,             
          even though the notice of deficiency was sent more than 3 years             
          after petitioner filed his return.  Sec. 6501(c).                           
               2.   Whether Petitioner Had a Right Not To Testify Because             
                    of the Fifth Amendment Privilege Against Self-                    
                    Incrimination                                                     
               Petitioner contends that he could not testify at trial                 
          because to do so would have required him to waive his Fifth                 
          Amendment privilege against self-incrimination.  Petitioner                 
          argues that he may not be forced to choose between defending his            
          case and losing his privilege against self-incrimination.  He               
          contends that the danger of self-incrimination is real and not              






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