Prosecution to present CCTV footage vs JI man's wife

From the Sun Star-Davao (Apr 28): Prosecution to present CCTV footage vs JI man's wife

THE prosecution handling the illegal possession of explosives case against the wife of a Malaysian believed to be a member of Jamaal Islamiyah is set to present the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of Sampaguita Inn.

The CCTV footage will be presented before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 14, where the violation of the Republic Act 9516, or The Illegal Possession of Firearms, Ammunition or Explosives, was raffled off on May 23 and 24.

The accused, Annabelle Nieva Lee, a native of Sorsogon, was arrested last December 14, 2012 for allegedly conspiring with her husband Mohd Noor Fikrie Bin Abd Kahar, who was shot dead by authorities along Camus Street in Davao City.

Prosecutor Faizal Padate, during the hearing, said the CCTV footage of Sampaguita Inn, where the accused and the alleged terrorist was confronted by the authorities, will be one of the vital evidences against Lee.

"We are gathering evidences to prove that she has knowledge that the bag she (Lee) was carrying has an explosive device inside," the fiscal said, adding the CCTV footage is with the custodial branch of the Davao City Police Office.

The CCTV footage will show that the accused, together with her husband, checked in at the Sampaguita Inn before the alleged explosion plan, Padate said.

Meanwhile, lawyer Behn Joseph Tesiorna, counsel for the accused, said in a text message that it is going to be the prosecution's "last chance" to present the CCTV footage before the court.

"If wala pa gihapon, they would be required to rest their case and make formal offer of exhibits," Tesiorna said, adding the CCTV footage would not, in any way, support the case.

RTC Branch 14 Judge George Omelio said during the hearing that the prosecution cannot fully establish that the accused and the alleged bomber are couple.

Omelio said the prosecution has not yet presented any marriage certificate to prove its claim and that it is appropriate to call them as "man and woman" and not "husband and wife."

He said the suspected terrorist even used the “first person” when he declared he had a bomb.

Lee, through her legal counsel, earlier said she "has no knowledge as to the contents of the bag she carried" when she and her husband Kahar were cornered by authorities.

Lee is detained at the Naval Intelligence and Security Group in Camp Felix Apolinario.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2013/04/28/prosecution-present-cctv-footage-vs-ji-mans-wife-279866