Hearing set for JI man’s wife

From the Sun Star-Davao (Apr 4): Hearing set for JI man’s wife

THE wife of the Malaysian national tagged as member of the international terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) is scheduled to appear anew before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) two weeks from now for another hearing.

A source who refused to be named for lack of authority to speak said Judge George Omelio of RTC Branch 14 scheduled the next hearing of the case filed against Annabelle Nieva Lee, of Sorsogon Province, on April 17 and 18 at 2 p.m.

Lee was charged with illegal possession of firearms, ammunition or explosives.

Lawyer Ben Joseph Tesiorna, legal counsel for the accused, confirmed the report to Sun.Star Davao in a text message on Thursday.

"Yes (the court has scheduled another hearing). But we expect resolution of our petition for bail before the upcoming hearing," Tesiorna said.

Omelio has yet to decide for the petition for bail filed by the accused through his legal counsel, as he had to resolve the result of the hearing based on the evidence and defense of both parties involved in the case.

Tesiorna, on the other hand, said they are hoping that the hearing of Lee will not just focus on the petition to bail, but also for the case to be dismissed as they believe that Lee has nothing to do with the activities of his husband, Mohd Noor Fikrie Bin Abd Kahar.

Omelio, in his order dated February 14, said the accused through Tesiorna said she "has no knowledge as to the contents of the bag she carried" when she and her husband Kahar were cornered by authorities on December 14, 2012.

Kahar was gunned down when authorities led by Senior Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa cornered him and his wife along Camus Street around 10:30 p.m. of December 14, 2012. Lee was arrested for carrying the bag that contains a bomb.

Tesiorna, in his motion to admit and fix bail, said the allegation that Lee is the wife of the slain terrorist was the only evidence clearly established by the authorities, hence "it cannot suffice for the denial of the constitutional rights of the accused to bail before conviction."

Tesiorna said the evidence of the prosecution to prove the guilt of Lee is not strong since the basis for the filing of the case against the accused is the allegation that she was initially in possession of the black bag allegedly containing the improvised explosive device.

On January 11, the accused pleaded not guilty during her arraignment.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2013/04/04/hearing-set-ji-man-s-wife-276005