Lawyer vows JI man's wife will face trail

From the Sun Star-Davao (Jan 14): Lawyer vows JI man's wife will face trail

THE counsel for the wife of a slain Malaysian national, who was tagged as member of the international terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah, assured on Monday his client would appear before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) proceedings next month. Annabelle Nieva Lee of Sorsogon earlier pleaded not guilty to the illegal possession of firearms, ammunitions or explosives charges filed against her on the arraignment last Friday before Judge George E. Omelio of the RTC Branch 14. The accused is scheduled to appear again before the court on February 14, 2013 for the pre–trial. Lawyer Ben Joseph Tesiorna, counsel of the accused, told Sun.Star Davao that attending the court proceedings is assured especially because his client pleaded not guilty.

"She (Lee) will appear again before the court. She believed that she is innocent, and since she pleaded not guilty that means she is willing to prove herself that she has nothing to do with the crime earlier charged against her," Tesiorna said. Aside that Lee believed she is innocent, Tesiorna also issued the statement because his client is under the custody of the Naval Intelligence and Security Group (NISG) and this cannot be cannot be rescued by any terrorist group should there indeed be any.

Senior Superintendent Ronald M. dela Rosa, chief of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), said the authorities here will do everything to protect the people and maintain the peace in order in Davao City. "Mag-rambol sa mi (with the terrorist group) una nila makuha si Lee (They'll have to go through the authorities first before they can rescue the woman)," dela Rosa said, adding that whether the court will allow Lee to post bail, she cannot just leave here. Tesiorna said they would file a petition for bail for the illegal possession of firearms and explosives charges filed against the accused next week.

Lee was arrested last December 14, 2012 after her husband, Mohd Noor Fikrie Bin Abd Kahar, was shot dead by authorities along Camus St., in Davao City. The City Prosecutor's Office found probable cause to charge Lee based on the evidence presented by the authorities. Recovered from the possession of the accused was the improvised explosive device made from 60mm mortar. Authorities also recovered mobile phones and other "explosive materials" from the accused.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2013/01/14/lawyer-vows-ji-mans-wife-will-face-trail-262934